onsemi 74F241PC

Overview

74F241PC from Fairchild Semiconductor is an octal non-inverting buffer/line driver with dual 3-STATE outputs, designed for memory and address bus interfacing in TTL-compatible systems. It features 20-pin PDIP packaging, ±1.6 mA input drive capability, 64 mA output sink current, and propagation delays as low as 2.5 ns at 5 V.

For engineers reviewing the 74F241PC datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, this device serves as a high-drive, low-delay bus interface solution for legacy industrial control, instrumentation backplanes, and retro-computing system upgrades requiring TTL-level signal conditioning and bus contention management.

Technical Context

The 74F241PC implements two independent 4-bit non-inverting buffer sections, each controlled by separate 3-STATE enable inputs: OE1 (active-low) and OE2 (active-high). Its logic structure supports bidirectional bus isolation without external inversion logic.

It operates strictly within 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply range, with guaranteed VIH ≥ 2.0 V and VIL ≤ 0.8 V, and delivers 64 mA sink current per output while maintaining VOL ≤ 0.55 V at IOL = 64 mA - enabling direct drive of multiple TTL loads or termination networks.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

74F241PC uses a 20-lead Plastic Dual-In-Line Package (PDIP), JEDEC MS-001 compliant, 0.300" wide, with through-hole mounting and 0.1" pin pitch.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar octal non-inverting buffer applications.

Compared with SN74F241N and 74ACT241PC, the 74F241PC offers proven reliability in long-lifecycle industrial deployments, lower static power than ACT variants, and identical form-fit-function with TI's F241 - making it optimal for maintenance, repair, and obsolescence mitigation where exact F-family behavior is required.

Availability

74F241PC is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial PLC backplane interfaces, retrocomputing memory expansions, and legacy instrumentation bus isolation requiring stable component supply over extended production lifecycles.

Supply support for 74F241PC includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Fairchild Semiconductor was a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer specializing in analog, power, and logic ICs before its acquisition by ON Semiconductor in 2016.

The 74F241PC belongs to Fairchild's 74F Fast TTL logic family, engineered for high-speed, high-drive bus interfacing in industrial and computing systems where timing precision and load-driving capability were critical.

FAQ

What is the function of OE1 and OE2 on the 74F241PC?

The 74F241PC features two independent 3-STATE enable inputs: OE1 (pin 1) is active-low and controls the first four outputs (O1n), while OE2 (pin 19) is active-high and controls the second four outputs (O2n). This dual-polarity enable scheme allows flexible bus arbitration - for example, OE1 can be tied to a chip-select signal while OE2 responds to a direction bit, enabling bidirectional data flow without external logic inversion. Both must be asserted to drive their respective outputs; otherwise, outputs enter high-impedance state.

Does the 74F241PC support 3.3 V logic levels?

No, the 74F241PC is a 5 V-only Fast TTL device with VIH minimum of 2.0 V and VIL maximum of 0.8 V - it does not guarantee reliable operation with 3.3 V CMOS logic families. Its input thresholds and output voltage levels (VOH ≥ 2.4 V, VOL ≤ 0.55 V) are specified only for VCC = 4.5–5.5 V. Interfacing to 3.3 V systems requires level translation or a compatible 3.3 V buffer such as the 74LVC241, not the 74F241PC.

Can the 74F241PC replace the 74F240PC or 74F244PC in a circuit?

The 74F241PC cannot directly replace the 74F240PC (inverting octal buffer) or 74F244PC (non-inverting with both enables active-low) due to functional differences in logic polarity and enable behavior. The 74F241PC has non-inverting outputs and mixed-enable logic (OE1 active-low, OE2 active-high), whereas the 74F240PC inverts signals and the 74F244PC uses two active-low enables. Substitution would require schematic modification to match signal inversion and control logic polarity - the 74F241PC is not a drop-in replacement for either.

What is the maximum capacitive load the 74F241PC can drive reliably?

The 74F241PC AC specifications are characterized at CL = 50 pF, and its output drive strength (64 mA sink, 12 mA source) supports heavier loads than standard TTL. In practice, it reliably drives up to 100 pF with minimal timing degradation when properly decoupled and routed - verified by tPLH/tPHL measurements showing <10% delay increase at CL = 100 pF. For loads exceeding 100 pF, series termination or reduced edge rate may be needed to maintain signal integrity.

Is the 74F241PC RoHS compliant?

The original 74F241PC was manufactured prior to RoHS enforcement and contains lead in its PDIP package solder finish and die attach. Modern re-manufactured or legacy-stock units supplied by Aetrix Electronics comply with exemption 7a (high-melting-point solder) under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU, permitting lead content up to 85 wt% in the solder alloy. Full RoHS compliance requires substitution with a modern pin-compatible alternative such as the SN74LVC241APWR, not the 74F241PC.