Level shifter has automatic direction sensor

Novel universal level shifter technology allows designers to use a bidirectional automatic direction sensor for supporting different voltage levels being designed into next-generation applications.

Pericom Semiconductor has expanded its translator portfolio with a patented, advanced universal level shifter (ULS) technology that allows customers to use a bidirectional automatic direction sensor for supporting different voltage levels being designed into next-generation applications.

The new PI4ULS3V16(M) and PI4ULS3V08(M) family of voltage translators were designed to translate signals with a datarate of up to 160Mbit/s under industrial temperature conditions.

The devices can also drive signals 10 to 20in on either side of the device, depending on the capacitive load, frequencies, and the selected driver's strength.

Each port has its own supply voltage, which can be set within the range of 1.4 to 3.6V.

In addition to providing voltage translation, these devices can also be used as a 16 or 8bit bus driver with 12mA of drive strength per bit.

Devices named using the letter M were developed with an advanced packaging option that makes them ideal for the mobile handset market because of the tiny 3 x 6mm TQFN and TFBGA package sizes.

"Pericom has developed an innovative new technology in its new PI4ULS family of products by providing a voltage level shifter with an automatic direction sensor", said Shaf Rahman, Director of Marketing for Switch and Interface Products.

"Each bit within a product will have its own automatic direction sensing circuitry; therefore, each bit can independently translate data from one IC to another without any direction control signals".

"This means that two ICs can drive a signal simultaneously, as long as they are driving different bits".

"The implementation of this new advanced technology is accomplished by using two drive strengths per bit along with a bus hold implementation" Rahman continued.

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