What is a voltage level translation IC (level shifter)?

A level shifter (voltage level translation IC) is an integrated circuit (IC) used to convert signal voltage levels between electronic circuits operating at different power supply voltages.

In signal transmission between systems with different voltage levels, communication may fail if the signal voltage levels are not compatible.
A level shifter is an IC that resolves this voltage gap.
In such transmission, the output voltage level must satisfy the input voltage level of the receiving system.
For example, if the output voltage level is too low to meet the input voltage level's VIH requirement, the signal cannot be transmitted (Figure 1).
Even in cases like this where the signal level is insufficient, using a voltage level translation IC (level shifter) makes it possible to bridge the voltage gap and enable signal transmission (Figure 2).

Fig.1 Example where transmission is impossible due to insufficient output voltage
Fig.1 Example where transmission is impossible due to insufficient output voltage
Fig.2 Example of Level Conversion Using a Voltage Level Conversion IC (Level Shifter)
Fig.2 Example of Level Conversion Using a Voltage Level Conversion IC (Level Shifter)

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