Introduction

Various systems and circuits may need to operate at different voltage levels in many applications. A microcontroller may operate at 5V, while sensors, communication devices, or other components may operate at a higher or lower voltage. Each component in an application has its unique operating requirements that are independent of what the main microcontroller requires, which often leads to this situation where multiple voltage domains are needed within a single application.

A common solution that allows devices that operate at different voltage levels to be used alongside one another in a single application is to utilize level shifters or voltage level translators in the design. Although this is an effective solution, some of the major tradeoffs are that it adds to the complexity of the design, increases the overall bill of materials, and requires more configuration and design time in the initial design stages and potentially in the future if the components that require voltage level shifting are ever swapped out or changed.

Select PIC® and AVR® microcontrollers feature the Multi-Voltage I/O module, allowing the respective devices to interface with hardware in a voltage domain different from the main V_DD domain without additional external components. This feature can be used to simplify designs and reduce overall production and manufacturing costs by potentially minimizing the number of components required. It provides increased flexibility and functionality from the microcontroller, making it an excellent solution for applications that require multiple voltage domains.