Translators or level shifter ICs (integrated circuits) are semiconductor logic chips designed to translate electrical signals from one voltage or logic type to another. The translation makes other ICs compatible with distinct voltage needs like CMOS and TTL and provides an interface between different voltage level operated components. Furthermore, these ICs prevent the sampled signals from crossing voltage levels incorrectly. In addition, they also offer low propagation delay, are auto-direction sensing, and are overvoltage tolerant.
How Do Translators, Level Shifter ICs work?
These ICs provide an interface between components whose voltages differ, and their voltages can be shifted between low and high. The logic level translation takes place via the selection of the power supply levels VDD (Voltage Drain Drain) and VCC (Voltage Common Collector). Voltage levels are selected at VCC and VDD, respectively.
What Are the Types of Translators, Level Shifter ICs?
These translator or shifter ICs are classified into several forms based on their pins, logic levels, package types, and translation ways. For instance, the I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is a multi-master to multi-slave and two-wired serial bus that allows serial communications at plenty of bit rates. A clock signal validates logic levels carried by each I2C translator signal, and the transmitted signals are both bidirectional.
Typical Applications of Translator, Level Shifter ICs:
These integrated circuits offer a great range of applications and are found in various devices, such as:
- SIM cards
- Audio codecs
- Mobile Phone
- LCD TVs
- STB (Set Top Box)
- Personal computing
- SD cards
- CF cards
- UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter).
