Nexperia USA Inc. 74LVC138APW,112

Overview

74LVC138APW,112 from Nexperia is a 3-to-8 line inverting decoder/demultiplexer with three enable inputs (E1, E2 active LOW; E3 active HIGH), eight mutually exclusive active LOW outputs (Y0–Y7), wide 1.2 V to 3.6 V supply range, and Schmitt-trigger inputs for noise immunity. It operates from –40 °C to +125 °C and supports mixed-voltage interfacing between 3.3 V and 5 V systems - commonly used in memory chip select decoding and address expansion in industrial microcontroller peripherals.

For engineers reviewing the 74LVC138APW,112 datasheet, 74LVC138APW,112 pinout, 74LVC138APW,112 application, or 74LVC138APW,112 equivalent, key selection criteria include enable logic configuration (dual LOW + single HIGH), propagation delay down to 1.0 ns at 3.3 V, output drive capability into 50 Ω transmission lines at 125 °C, and TSSOP16 package compatibility with high-density PCB layouts.

Technical Context

The 74LVC138APW implements combinational logic decoding using CMOS technology with fully buffered inputs and outputs. Its triple-enable architecture (E1, E2, E3) enables hierarchical expansion to 1-of-32 decoding with only one external inverter - no internal latching or clocking circuitry is present.

All inputs feature Schmitt-trigger action with hysteresis ≥0.3 V at VCC = 3.3 V, ensuring robust operation with slow-rising signals. Outputs are open-drain compatible only in functional sense - they are push-pull but actively drive LOW (Yn = LOW when selected) and float HIGH (Yn = HIGH otherwise), delivering true inverting 3-to-8 decode behavior per JEDEC JESD8-7A/5A/C standards.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TSSOP16 plastic thin shrink small outline package (SOT403-1); 16-pin, 4.4 mm body width, 0.65 mm pitch; lead-free and RoHS compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar 3-to-8 decoder applications.

Compared with SN74LVC138ARGYR, the 74LVC138APW supports deeper voltage scaling (1.2 V), critical for battery-powered edge nodes; versus 74AHC138PW, it trades raw speed for input overvoltage resilience and broader supply flexibility - making it optimal for heterogeneous voltage domains in industrial gateways.

Availability

74LVC138APW,112 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for memory decoding, microcontroller peripheral expansion, address multiplexing, and industrial I/O module selection requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges.

Supply support for 74LVC138APW,112 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

Nexperia is a leading Dutch semiconductor manufacturer specializing in high-performance, energy-efficient logic, analog, and discrete components for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

The 74LVC138A belongs to Nexperia's LVC (Low-Voltage CMOS) logic family, designed specifically for low-power, mixed-voltage digital interfacing in space-constrained industrial and IoT applications.

FAQ

Can the 74LVC138APW,112 operate with a 1.2 V supply and still interface with 5 V inputs?

Yes. The device is fully specified down to 1.2 V VCC and features overvoltage-tolerant inputs rated to 5.5 V. This allows direct connection to 5 V logic outputs without external level shifters, while consuming <10 μA ICC at 1.2 V - ideal for ultra-low-power wake-up circuits.

What is the maximum output sink current at 125 °C and how is it verified?

The 74LVC138APW,112 guarantees 24 mA sink current at VO ≤ 0.55 V with VCC = 3.0 V and Tamb = 125 °C, per Table 6 (Static Characteristics). This is validated across process corners and confirmed in the "Output drive capability 50 Ω transmission lines at 125 °C" feature statement in Section 2.

Is the TSSOP16 package (SOT403-1) thermally enhanced compared to SO16?

No. The TSSOP16 (SOT403-1) has a thermal resistance θJA of ~117 K/W (per Nexperia thermal models), higher than SO16's ~100 K/W. However, its thinner profile and smaller footprint improve PCB heat spreading in dense layouts - derating begins at 91 °C with 8.5 mW/K linear reduction above that point.

How does the triple-enable architecture simplify 1-of-32 decoding?

By connecting E1/E2 of four 74LVC138APW units to a 2-bit address bus and tying their E3 inputs to separate outputs of a fifth 74LVC138APW (configured as 1-of-4 decoder), full 5-to-32 decoding is achieved. Only one inverter is needed to generate the complemented E3 signal - no additional gates or CPLDs required.