Fairchild Semiconductor
Application Note
April 1998
AN-5001
Revised May 1999
Using Fairchild’s LVX Low Voltage
Dual Supply CMOS Translating Transceivers
INTRODUCTION
On the 74LVX4245 Figure 2, VCCA and the A I/O port are
the 5V side (4.5V to 5.5V) and the VCCB and the B I/O are
the 3V side (2.7V to 3.6V).
The Fairchild
CMOS
Translating
Transceivers:
74LVX3245, 74LVX4245, 74LVXC3245, and 74LVXC4245
are true voltage translating devices. This is accomplished
by electrically isolating the A-side from the B-side.
An example of when it is necessary to use a true voltage
translator, is in a system translating between 3 volt logic
and 5 volt CMOS logic. In this case, the translators will
insure a clean, fast and valid VIH (Voltage Input High) sig-
nal in both directions. This translation may be problematic
with other forms of translation due to the VIH required, typi-
cally 3.5V for 5V CMOS.
DEVICE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS
The LVX Translating Transceivers are divided into two
types of devices, Dual Supply Translating Transceivers,
and Dual Supply Configurable Voltage Interface Transceiv-
ers. These devices offer the system designer multiple
options for true voltage level translation in a system.
FIGURE 2. 74LVX4245
CONFIGURABLE VOLTAGE INTERFACE
TRANSCEIVERS
DUAL SUPPLY TRANSLATORS
The
Configurable
Voltage
Interface
transceivers
The Dual Supply Translator devices (74LVX3245 and
74LVX4245) are designed to interface 3 volt to 5 volt sig-
nals. The Transmit/Receive control pin controls data direc-
tion flow. These devices are designed with the higher
voltage VCC able to swing from 4.5V to 5.5V and the lower
(74LVXC3245 and 74LVXC4245) are designed for real
time configurable I/O applications such as PCMCIA (Per-
sonal Computer Memory Card Interface Association).
Configurability simply means the device is designed with
the ability of the “configurable” side of the I/O port, to track,
or follow the VCCB voltage level. This is accomplished by
voltage VCC able to swing from 2.7V to 3.6V. The control
pins OE (Output Enable) and T/R (Transmit/Receive) are
powered by the VCCA side of the device.
tying VCCB of the device to the PCMCIA card voltage sup-
ply. The card will always experience full rail data signals,
maximizing interface reliability.
The 74LVX3245 and 74LVX4245 provide the same 5V to
3V translation function. The difference between the two
devices is the side of the device the 5V and 3V VCC’s and
The control pins OE (Output Enable) and T/R (Transmit/
Receive) are powered by the VCCA side of the device.
their associated I/O (Input/Outputs data) ports are on.
In the case of the 74LVX3245 Figure 1, VCCB and the B
I/O port are the 5V side (4.5V to 5.5V) and the VCCA and
the A I/O port are the 3V side (2.7V to 3.6V).
These devices are also designed to allow the configurable
side (VCCB and B I/O port) to float, unconnected to any
voltage or control source. This is allowed when the OE pin
is driven to a logic high.
Floating VCCB and the B port is useful in applications where
a card or cable may need to be left disconnected. Using a
Configurable Voltage Interface device at this point will elim-
inate false signaling or system damage due to the oscilla-
tions that can occur if standard design CMOS inputs and
power pins are left floating.
The 74LVXC3245 and 74LVXC4245 are designed for dif-
ferent VCCA and A I/O port voltage levels.
FIGURE 1. 74LVX3245
© 1999 Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
AN500148.prf
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