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------Question for SN74HC138N Please Put your question below------

In one of the product attributes, I want to know about what does ‘Current - Output High, Low’ means. Does it means the output current of the demultiplexer or something else?

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Hi @yoonsungkim1 ,

Welcome to DigiKey TechForum and thanks for your inquiry.

In the datasheet for the SN74HC138N (a 3-to-8 line decoder/demultiplexer), the attribute “Current - Output High, Low” refers to the maximum output current the device can source (when output is HIGH) or sink (when output is LOW) per output pin.

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Here’s what it means in detail:

  • “Output High Current” (IOH): This is the maximum current the output can source when it is in the HIGH state (logic 1). For the SN74HC138N, this is typically -5.2 mA at 6V Vcc. The negative sign indicates current is flowing out of the pin.
  • “Output Low Current” (IOL): This is the maximum current the output can sink when it is in the LOW state (logic 0). For this device, it’s typically 5.2 mA at 6V Vcc, meaning it can pull that much current into the pin.

So to answer your question:

Yes, it does refer to the output current capability of the demultiplexer — specifically, how much current each output pin can handle when it’s driving a HIGH or LOW signal.

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