74HC38

The 74HC38 is a high-speed CMOS digital logic IC that provides quadruple 2-input NAND gates with open-collector outputs. Engineered for reliable interface and logic driving tasks, it combines fast switching performance with low power consumption to suit a wide range of electronic designs.

• Operating voltage: 2V to 6V for broad system compatibility.
• Typical propagation delay: 14 nanoseconds for rapid signal processing.
• Open-collector outputs: enable wired-AND logic configurations and straightforward level interfacing.
• Low quiescent current: helps conserve power in portable and battery-powered applications.
• High noise immunity: rated at 28% VCC to support reliable operation in noisy environments.

Compared with older logic families, the 74HC38 reduces power dissipation while delivering improved speed, making it well suited for modern digital systems. The open-collector output topology distinguishes this device from standard NAND gates by allowing multiple outputs to be wired together for combined logic functions without additional active components. This simplifies circuit topology where wired logic or shared pull-up arrangements are required.

Built on high-performance CMOS technology, the 74HC38 supports compact, efficient circuit implementations. Designers benefit from its combination of wide voltage tolerance, low standby current, and robust noise margins when integrating the device into interface stages, glue logic, address decoding, or other digital modules that require dependable NAND functionality with flexible output behavior.