The SN74GTLPH16912 is a medium-drive, 18-bit UBT™ transceiver that provides LVTTL-to-GTLP and GTLP-to-LVTTL signal-level translation. It allows for transparent, latched, clocked, and clock-enabled modes of data transfer. The device provides a high-speed interface between cards operating at LVTTL logic levels and a backplane operating at GTLP signal levels. High-speed (about three times faster than standard TTL or LVTTL) backplane operation is a direct result of GTLP's reduced output swing (<1 V), reduced input threshold levels, improved differential input, OEC™ circuitry, and TI-OPC™ circuitry. Improved GTLP OEC and TI-OPC circuits minimize bus-settling time and have been designed and tested using several backplane models. The medium drive allows incident-wave switching in heavily loaded backplanes with equivalent load impedance down to 19 .

GTLP is the Texas Instruments (TI™) derivative of the Gunning Transceiver Logic (GTL) JEDEC standard JESD 8-3. The ac specification of the SN74GTLPH16912 is given only at the preferred higher noise-margin GTLP, but the user has the flexibility of using this device at either GTL (V_TT = 1.2 V and V_REF = 0.8 V) or GTLP (V_TT = 1.5 V and V_REF = 1 V) signal levels.

Normally, the B port operates at GTLP signal levels. The A-port and control inputs operate at LVTTL logic levels, but are 5-V tolerant and are compatible with TTL and 5-V CMOS inputs. V_REF is the B-port differential input reference voltage.

This device is fully specified for live-insertion applications using I_off, power-up 3-state, and BIAS V_CC. The I_off circuitry disables the outputs, preventing damaging current backflow through the device when it is powered down. The power-up 3-state circuitry places the outputs in the high-impedance state during power up and power down, which prevents driver conflict. The BIAS V_CC circuitry precharges and preconditions the B-port input/output connections, preventing disturbance of active data on the backplane during card insertion or removal, and permits true live-insertion capability.

This GTLP device features TI-OPC circuitry, which actively limits overshoot caused by improperly terminated backplanes, unevenly distributed cards, or empty slots during low-to-high signal transitions. This improves signal integrity, which allows adequate noise margin to be maintained at higher frequencies.

Active bus-hold circuitry holds unused or undriven LVTTL data inputs at a valid logic state. Use of pullup or pulldown resistors with the bus-hold circuitry is not recommended.

When V_CC is between 0 and 1.5 V, the device is in the high-impedance state during power up or power down. However, to ensure the high-impedance state above 1.5 V, the output-enable (OE) input should be tied to V_CC through a pullup resistor; the minimum value of the resistor is determined by the current-sinking capability of the driver.