Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SN74GTLPH16945VR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	8000
74AVC16T245DGVRE4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TVSOP	0
SN74AXCH1T45DTQR Texas Instruments	LOGIC GATES AND INVERTERS	2885
SN65ELT21DGK Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	4
SN65ELT20DGKR Texas Instruments	LOW SKEW CLOCK DRIVER	22500
SN74LVCC3245ADWR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 24SOIC	118
TCA9517DR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8SOIC	2602
TXB0108ZXYR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 20BGA	2147483647
SN74LVC2T45YZPR Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 8DSBGA	22555
SN74AXCH1T45DRYR Texas Instruments	SINGLE-BIT DUAL-SUPPLY BUS TRANS	4950
SN74AVCAH164245KR Texas Instruments	BUS TRANSCEIVER	83334
TXS0104ERGYRG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 14VQFN	0
SN65ELT22DR Texas Instruments	SN65ELT22 5V DUAL TTL TO DIFFERE	65000
SN65LVELT23DGK Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	491
SN74GTLP817DW Texas Instruments	BUS DRIVER	13450
SN10KHT5541DW Texas Instruments	SN10KHT5541 OCTAL ECL-TO-TTL TRA	0
SN74ALVC164245DGGT Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR BIDIRECTIONAL 48TSSOP	3
SN74GTLPH16945GR Texas Instruments	SN74GTLPH16945 16-BIT LVTTL-TO-G	14169
SN65CML100DGKG4 Texas Instruments	IC TRNSLTR UNIDIRECTIONAL 8VSSOP	0
SN100KT5574DW Texas Instruments	ECL TO TTL TRANSLATOR, 8 FUNC	4381

Logic - Translators, Level Shifters

1. Overview

Logic translators and level shifters are semiconductor devices that enable signal compatibility between circuits operating at different voltage levels. These ICs ensure reliable data transmission by converting logic signals from one voltage domain to another, maintaining signal integrity in mixed-voltage systems. Their importance has grown with the proliferation of low-voltage CMOS technologies and multi-rail power architectures in modern electronics.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Single-direction translators	Unidirectional voltage conversion with isolation	SPI interface between 3.3V FPGA and 1.8V sensors
Bi-directional translators	Automatic direction detection, dual-voltage I/O	I2C bus bridging between 5V microcontroller and 2.5V EEPROM
Multi-channel level shifters	Parallel conversion of multiple signals (4-32 channels)	Memory interface between SoC and DDR4 SDRAM modules
Direction-controlled translators	External control pin for signal direction selection	UART level conversion in industrial communication modules

3. Structure and Composition

Typical devices feature a monolithic CMOS structure with dual power supply inputs (VCCA and VCCB). Physical components include:

Dual-supply MOSFET pairs for voltage translation
Integrated clamp circuits for ESD protection
Direction control logic (for bidirectional types)
Channel-specific enable/disable circuitry

Common package types: TSSOP (14-48 pins), QFN (20-64 pins), WLCSP (1.5 1.5mm ultra-compact).

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Significance
Voltage range (1.2V-5.5V)	Determines compatibility with different logic families
Conversion rate (100Mbps-1.2Gbps)	Limits maximum operating frequency
Channel count (1-32)	Impacts system integration density
Propagation delay (2-20ns)	Affects timing critical applications
Quiescent current (1-100 A)	Power efficiency in battery-powered systems

5. Application Areas

Key industries include:

Telecommunications: 5G baseband processors interfacing with RF front-ends
Industrial automation: PLC modules connecting 24V sensors to 3.3V MCUs
Consumer electronics: Smartphone PMIC to application processor communication
Automotive systems: CAN-FD transceiver voltage adaptation
IoT devices: Sensor hub interfacing between different voltage rail components

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
TI (Texas Instruments)	TXB0108	8-channel, 1.2-3.6V to 1.65-5.5V translation, auto-direction detection
NXP Semiconductors	LTC2850	3.3/5V dual supply, 15kV ESD protection, RS485/UART interface
ON Semiconductor	NXU408	4-channel, 0.9-5.5V range, sub-1ns propagation delay
STMicroelectronics	L6470	Stepper motor driver with integrated level shifting for industrial automation

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations:

Match supply voltage ranges with source/target systems
Ensure conversion rate meets timing requirements
Choose appropriate channel density to minimize PCB area
For bidirectional buses, select devices with automatic direction sensing
Consider thermal performance for high-current applications
Evaluate ESD protection levels for industrial environments

8. Industry Trends

Development directions include:

Voltage scaling down to 0.8V core operation
Integration with signal conditioning functions
Increased adoption of capacitive isolation technology
Advanced packaging (3D TSV, fan-out WLP)
Protocol-aware smart translation (I3C, PCIe 6.0)