Voltage level translators are essential components in modern electronics, acting as intermediaries that enable seamless communication between devices operating at different voltage levels. They are crucial in a wide range of applications, from consumer gadgets to automotive systems. More specifically, fixed-direction voltage level translators are designed to simplify communication protocols like UART, SPI, and JTAG while addressing power and design efficiency challenges.
With its latest NXU series, Nexperia aims to set a new benchmark in this space. The company has just released its next-gen NXU family of fixed-direction voltage level translators, catering to 4-bit, 2-bit, and 1-bit configurations. Nexperia’s new devices will optimize communication between host processors and peripherals. As a result, the company promises higher performance, reduced power consumption, and minimized pin count.
These advancements are important, as traditional direction-controlled level translators require additional GPIO pins, increasing design complexity and footprint. Meanwhile, auto-direction devices eliminate the need for direction control but can suffer from inconsistent I/O behavior and insufficient current drive and data rates for demanding applications.
Nexperia’s NXU series will try to bridge the gap between the two. The company has combined the high data rate of direction-controlled translators with the compactness of auto-direction solutions, leading to over two times lower power consumption compared to similar auto-direction devices. Moreover, the company’s NXU translators support voltages from 0.9 V to 5.5 V, enabling excellent compatibility across a variety of voltage nodes. The data rates of up to 250 Mbps are quite astonishing, too, enabling high-speed communication.
To cater to the growing requirements of the automotive industry for more efficient electronics, Nexperia will offer AEC-Q100-qualified variants of the NXU series with side-wettable flanks for automated optical inspection.
By offering a tailored mix of flexibility, efficiency, and performance, Nexperia’s NXU translators are poised to become a go-to solution for industries ranging from consumer electronics to enterprise and automotive applications. Moreover, this launch helps Nexperia reinforce its position at the forefront of semiconductor innovation, addressing real-world challenges in power-sensitive designs.
