How can I implement voltage level shifting using Altera MAX Series devices in a mixed-voltage design environment? (ALTERA AN-490 MAX Series Voltage Level Shifters User Guide)

Answer

manuals.plus

Oct 05, 2025 - 02:22 PM

To implement voltage level shifting using Altera MAX Series devices in a mixed-voltage design environment, follow these steps:

1. **Select the appropriate Altera MAX Series device:** Choose from MAX II, MAX V, or MAX 10 devices based on your specific requirements and voltage levels involved in your design.

2. **Configure the I/O banks:** Each I/O bank can be set to operate at a specific voltage using the VCCIO pin. The supported devices can interface with different voltage levels because the core power supply voltage (VCCINT or VCC_ONE for MAX 10) is separate from the device output voltage (VCCIO).

3. **Programmable I/O buffer:** The I/O buffer of the MAX Series devices is programmable and supports a wide range of I/O voltage standards, such as 3.3V LVTTL/LVCMOS, 2.5V LVTTL/LVCMOS, 1.8V LVTTL/LVCMOS, and 1.5V LVCMOS.

4. **Implement the design:** Assign physical pins, set pin attributes in the Quartus II software, configure relevant buffers, and define signal paths between input and output pins. This involves determining pin assignments, setting pin attributes, and defining signal paths in the source code.

5. **Example design:** Refer to the provided design examples for MAX II and MAX 10 devices in the application note (AN-490) for a detailed demonstration of implementing voltage level shifters using Altera MAX Series devices.

By following these steps and referring to the user guide for Altera AN-490 MAX Series Voltage Level Shifters, you can successfully implement voltage level shifting in a mixed-voltage design environment using Altera MAX Series devices.