7404 Hex Inverter Technical Summary

Overview

The 7404 is a hex inverter IC (integrated circuit) belonging to the 7400 series of TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) devices. It contains six independent inverters, each performing the Boolean logic function of inversion. This means the output signal is the complement of the input signal. The 7404 is widely used in digital logic circuits for signal inversion, buffering, and waveform shaping applications.

As a fundamental building block in digital electronics, the 7404 operates with standard TTL voltage levels and is compatible with other TTL family devices. Its robust design and reliable performance have made it a staple component in digital system design for decades.

Features

• Six independent inverter gates in a single package
• Standard TTL switching voltages
• Typical propagation delay of 9ns (varies by specific variant)
• Wide operating voltage range: 4.75V to 5.25V (nominal 5V operation)
• Fan-out of 10 (can drive up to 10 standard TTL inputs)
• Low power consumption compared to original TTL implementations
• Available in multiple package options including DIP, SOIC, and TSSOP
• Operating temperature range: 0°C to 70°C (commercial grade)

Applications

The 7404 hex inverter finds use in numerous digital applications including:

• Signal Conditioning

  Used to clean up noisy signals or restore proper logic levels in digital circuits.

• Clock Signal Generation

  Can be used with RC networks to create simple oscillator circuits for clock generation.

• Logic Level Conversion

  Helps interface between different logic families or voltage levels.

• Waveform Shaping

  Used to square up slow rise-time signals or convert analog signals to digital pulses.

• Address Decoding

  Used in combination with other logic gates for memory address decoding.

• Test Equipment

  Commonly used in logic probes, pulse generators, and other test equipment.

Electrical Characteristics

Absolute Maximum Ratings

• Supply Voltage (V_CC): -0.5V to +7V
• DC Input Voltage (V_I): -0.5V to V_CC + 0.5V
• DC Output Voltage (V_O): -0.5V to V_CC + 0.5V
• DC Input Diode Current (I_IK): ±20mA
• DC Output Diode Current (I_OK): ±20mA
• DC Output Current (I_O): ±25mA
• DC Supply Current (I_CC): ±55mA
• Storage Temperature Range: -65°C to +150°C

Recommended Operating Conditions

• Supply Voltage (V_CC): 4.75V to 5.25V
• High-Level Input Voltage (V_IH): 2V min
• Low-Level Input Voltage (V_IL): 0.8V max
• Operating Ambient Temperature: 0°C to 70°C

DC Characteristics

• High-Level Output Voltage (V_OH): 2.4V min (I_OH = -400µA)
• Low-Level Output Voltage (V_OL): 0.4V max (I_OL = 16mA)
• Input Clamp Voltage (V_IK): -1.5V max (I_IK = -18mA)
• High-Level Input Current (I_IH): 40µA max (V_IH = 2.7V)
• Low-Level Input Current (I_IL): -1.6mA max (V_IL = 0.4V)
• Supply Current (I_CC): 12mA max (all gates switching)

AC Characteristics

• Propagation Delay (t_PLH, t_PHL): 15ns max (C_L = 15pF, R_L = 2kΩ)
• Output Transition Time (t_TLH, t_THL): 15ns max
• Input Capacitance: 3pF typical
• Power Dissipation Capacitance: 22pF typical

Package Information

The 7404 is available in several package options to accommodate different assembly and space requirements:

14-Pin DIP (Dual In-line Package)

• Package Code: 646-05
• Body Dimensions: 19.3mm x 6.35mm
• Lead Pitch: 2.54mm (0.1 inch)
• Lead Length: 3.3mm min
• Material: Molded Plastic

14-Pin SOIC (Small Outline Integrated Circuit)

• Package Code: 751A-05
• Body Dimensions: 8.65mm x 3.9mm
• Lead Pitch: 1.27mm (0.05 inch)
• Lead Length: 0.4mm min
• Material: Molded Plastic

14-Pin TSSOP (Thin Shrink Small Outline Package)

• Package Code: 948F-03
• Body Dimensions: 5mm x 4.4mm
• Lead Pitch: 0.65mm
• Lead Length: 0.2mm min
• Material: Molded Plastic

Pin Configuration

The 7404 follows standard TTL pinout configuration:

• Pin 1: 1A (Input for Gate 1)
• Pin 2: 1Y (Output for Gate 1)
• Pin 3: 2A (Input for Gate 2)
• Pin 4: 2Y (Output for Gate 2)
• Pin 5: 3A (Input for Gate 3)
• Pin 6: 3Y (Output for Gate 3)
• Pin 7: GND (Ground)
• Pin 8: 4Y (Output for