Texas Instruments SN74LV125ANS

Overview

SN74LV125ANS from Texas Instruments is a quadruple 3-state bus buffer gate IC designed for bidirectional data bus isolation in 2-V to 5.5-V digital systems. It provides four independent noninverting buffers, each with active-low output-enable control (OE), rail-to-rail output swing, and low-noise EPIC™ CMOS process implementation. Used in address/data bus buffering, memory interfacing, and logic-level translation between mixed-voltage subsystems.

For engineers reviewing the SN74LV125ANS datasheet, SN74LV125ANS pinout, SN74LV125ANS application, or SN74LV125ANS equivalent, key selection criteria include its 3-state output drive capability (±16 mA at 5 V), propagation delay as low as 3.4 ns (VCC = 5 V), input transition rate tolerance up to 20 ns/V, and guaranteed operation from –40°C to 85°C in the NS package.

Technical Context

This device implements four independent noninverting buffer stages, each controlled by a dedicated OE input that places the corresponding Y output in high-impedance state when driven high. The logic function follows standard positive-logic truth table: OE = L enables Y = A; OE = H forces Y = Z (high-Z). No internal inversion or latching is present.

Designed using TI's EPIC™ (Enhanced-Performance Implanted CMOS) process, it delivers low ground bounce (VOLP < 0.8 V) and overshoot immunity (VOHV > 2 V), with latch-up resistance exceeding 250 mA per JESD 17 and ESD protection >2000 V per MIL-STD-883 Method 3015.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

The SN74LV125ANS uses a 14-pin plastic small-outline (NS) package with 0.209-inch body width and 0.050-inch lead pitch. Pin 7 is GND; Pin 14 is VCC. All inputs and outputs are CMOS-compatible and electrically isolated per channel.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar bus buffer applications.

Compared with SN74LVC125A and 74AC125, the SN74LV125ANS offers broader voltage flexibility (2–5.5 V), superior noise immunity, and industrial temperature qualification - making it optimal for mixed-voltage embedded systems where reliability and interoperability outweigh marginal speed gains.

Availability

SN74LV125ANS is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for memory expansion, microcontroller peripheral interfacing, voltage-domain translation, and JTAG signal conditioning requiring stable component supply across industrial temperature ranges.

Supply support for SN74LV125ANS 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

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and logic solutions, with decades of innovation in high-reliability logic families and process technologies.

The SN74LV125ANS belongs to TI's LV (Low-Voltage) logic family, engineered for robust performance across wide supply ranges and demanding industrial environments - specifically targeting bus buffering, signal isolation, and voltage-level interoperability in embedded control systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum supply voltage rating for SN74LV125ANS?

The absolute maximum supply voltage for SN74LV125ANS is 7 V, but recommended operation is limited to 2 V–5.5 V per datasheet specifications. Operating above 5.5 V risks permanent damage and invalidates parametric guarantees, even if within absolute ratings. Always use proper decoupling and avoid transient overvoltage events exceeding 5.5 V in normal operation of SN74LV125ANS.

Does SN74LV125ANS support hot insertion or live bus swapping?

SN74LV125ANS supports partial-power-down operation: inputs tolerate –0.5 V to 7 V regardless of VCC state, and outputs enter high-Z when OE is high - enabling safe insertion into powered-backplane systems. However, TI does not guarantee hot-swap compliance per JEDEC standards, so external current-limiting or sequencing must be used in true hot-swap applications involving SN74LV125ANS.

How should unused inputs be handled on SN74LV125ANS?

All unused inputs on SN74LV125ANS must be tied to either VCC or GND to prevent floating nodes, which can cause excessive ICC, oscillation, or ESD susceptibility. TI recommends using pullup resistors (e.g., 10 kΩ to VCC) for OE pins to ensure high-Z default state during power-up, and direct connections for unused A inputs. This requirement applies strictly to every instance of SN74LV125ANS in a design.

What is the thermal resistance (θJA) of the SN74LV125ANS NS package?

The SN74LV125ANS in the NS (plastic small-outline) package has a junction-to-ambient thermal resistance (θJA) of 127°C/W, measured under standard JEDEC conditions (1-layer board, 1-in² copper pad). This value assumes proper PCB layout with adequate copper pour and thermal vias; actual θJA may increase significantly in compact, multilayer, or thermally constrained layouts using SN74LV125ANS.

Can SN74LV125ANS drive a 50-pF load at 5 V with guaranteed timing?

Yes - SN74LV125ANS guarantees tpd ≤ 8.5 ns and tdis ≤ 10 ns when driving a 50-pF load at VCC = 5 V and TA = 25°C. These values are production-tested limits, not typicals, and remain valid across the full –40°C to +85°C operating range. For timing-critical designs, always verify worst-case delays using the SN74LV125ANS datasheet's "Switching Characteristics" tables.