Tokyo,Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) today announced the development of the HD74ALVC165245 and HD74ALVC166245 , two ultra-low-voltage, high-speed voltage translator ICs. Designed to be used for data transfer within systems containing ICs operating on differing voltages, they provide efficient signal transfer between differing voltage levels. Both support a 16-bit bus width and can operate on as low as 1.2 volts, making them ideal for compact, low-voltage, high-speed systems such as digital cameras and mobile phone handsets. Sample shipments will begin in April 2003 in Japan

This series of voltage translator IC products enables high-speed bidirectional data transfer between different voltages ranging from 1.2 to 3.6 volts, with minimal power consumption. Over a 16-bit bus they support a data transfer rate (pin-to-pin delay: tpd) of 4.4 ns maximum (VccA = 3.3 ± 0.3 V, VccB = 2.5 ± 0.2 V). In addition, they incorporate an I/O tolerant function that reduces system power consumption by preventing current from flowing into the voltage translator IC when the system is powered down.
[Background]

In recent years compact, battery-powered products such as digital cameras and mobile phones have become significantly smaller and faster. At the same time the trend toward low-voltage electronic devices has accelerated with the aim of extended battery life. The power supply voltage of key components such as CPUs and DSPs, for which fast operation is essential, has dropped below 2.5 volts to as low as 1.8 volts, and this trend is continuing. Nevertheless, low-voltage versions of peripheral components are sometimes not available, with the result that it is not unusual for a system to incorporate on the same circuit board components that employ different signal voltage levels. High-speed voltage translator ICs, which allow smooth level conversion between differing signal voltage levels, have thus become a very promising product category.

Hitachi is currently mass producing low-voltage (bidirectional) voltage translator ICs such as the HD74LVCC3245A, which supports data transfer over an 8-bit bus and a signal voltage range of 2.3 to 5.5 volts. However, as key devices have achieved still lower voltage levels and higher speeds, the company has gone on to develop the HD74ALVC165245 and HD74ALVC166245 , which support signal voltage levels as low as 1.2 volts and even higher speed data transfer.
[About these Products]

The HD74ALVC165245 and HD74ALVC166245 employ the same 0.35