Detailed Description

The MAX3000E/MAX3001E/MAX3002–MAX3012 logic-

level translators provide the level shifting necessary to

allow data transfer in a multivoltage system. Externally

either side of the device. Logic signals present on the

The MAX3000E/MAX3001E/MAX3002/MAX3003 are

bidirectional level translators allowing data translation in

These devices use an architecture specifically

designed to be bidirectional without the use of a direc-

tion pin. The MAX3004–MAX3012 unidirectional level

from +1.65V to +5.5V, making them ideal for data trans-

fer between low-voltage ASICs/PLDs and higher volt-

age systems.

The MAX3000E/MAX3001E/MAX3002/MAX3004–

MAX3012 feature an output enable mode that reduces

current to less than 2µA when in shutdown. The

MAX3000E/MAX3001E have ±15kV ESD protection on

route signals externally. The MAX3000E operates at a

guaranteed data rate of 230kbps; the MAX3001E oper-

ates at a guaranteed data rate of 4Mbps and the

MAX3002–MAX3012 are guaranteed with a data rate of

20Mbps of operation over the entire specified operating

voltage range.

Level Translation

not latch up.

The maximum data rate also depends heavily on the

load capacitance (see the

Typical Operating

Characteristics), output impedance of the driver, and

the operational voltage range (see the

Timing

Characteristics table).

Input Driver Requirements

The MAX3001E/MAX3002–MAX3012 architecture is

based on a one-shot accelerator output stage. See

Figure 5. Accelerator output stages are always in three-

state except when there is a transition on any of the

When there is such a transition, the accelerator stages

become active, charging (discharging) the capacitances

at the I/Os. Due to its bidirectional nature, both stages

become active during the one-shot pulse. This can lead

to some current feeding into the external source that is

driving the translator. However, this behavior helps to

speed up the transition on the driven side.

For proper full-speed operation, the output current

of a device that drives the inputs of the MAX3000E/

MAX3001E/MAX3002–MAX3012 should meet the fol-

lowing requirements:

• MAX3000E (230kbps):

• MAX3001E (4Mbps):

• MAX3002–MAX3012 (20Mbps):

where i is the driver output current, V is the logic-supply

tance of the signal line.

Enable Output Mode (EN, EN A/B)

The MAX3000E/MAX3001E/MAX3002 and the MAX3004–

MAX3012 feature an EN input, and the MAX3003 has an

EN A/B input. Pull EN low to set the MAX3000E/

MAX3003 is intended for bus multiplexing or bus switch-

ing applications. Drive EN A/B low to place channels 1B

through 4B in active mode, while channels 1A through

4A are in three-state mode. Drive EN A/B to logic-high

1B through 4B remain in three-state mode.

±15kV ESD Protection

As with all Maxim devices, ESD-protection structures

are incorporated on all pins to protect against electro-

static discharges encountered during handling and

against static discharge. Maxim’s engineers have

developed state-of-the-art structures to protect these

pins against ESD of ±15kV without damage. The ESD

structures withstand high ESD in all states: normal

operation, three-state output mode, and powered

down. After an ESD event, Maxim’s E versions keep

working without latchup, whereas competing products

can latch and must be powered down to remove

latchup.

+1.2V to +5.5V, ±15kV ESD-Protected, 0.1µA,

35Mbps, 8-Channel Level Translators

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