7400-series integrated circuits

The (/wiki/7400_(disambiguation)) series is a popular group of tiny parts called logic family made using transistor–transistor logic (TTL) integrated circuits (ICs). These small parts help computers and other electronic devices think and make decisions.

In 1964, Texas Instruments made the first version called the SN5400 series, using a special kind of material called a semiconductor package. Then, in 1966, they made a cheaper version called the SN7400 series, which became very popular and was used in more than half of all logic chips. Because so many people used it, it became the standard for many electronic devices.

Over time, new versions of these chips were made that used different technologies like low-power CMOS and worked with lower power supplies. Some of these chips were also made in smaller sizes that could be attached to the inside of electronic parts using a method called surface mount packages.

Overview

The 7400 series is a group of tiny parts called integrated circuits that help make electronic devices work. These parts can do many jobs, like controlling simple switches, remembering information, or doing math. They were first made in 1964 by Texas Instruments and became very popular. Over time, these parts were made in different ways and sizes, and they are still used today in computers and other machines.

These circuits were made in two main types: one that could handle higher temperatures for special uses and another for everyday use. Even though newer parts have been made, the 7400 series is still used, especially in learning and testing new ideas. Some of the fastest and lowest-power versions are only available in tiny packages that are hard to use by hand.

Today, these circuits are used in many electronic devices and computers. The original versions were easy to use and learn with, and they are still made by many companies. Some of the newer versions work faster or use less power, but they are usually only available in very small packages.

The first part in this series, called the 7400, has four simple switches called NAND gates. Each gate has two inputs and one output, with two more pins for power and turning the device off. These parts came in different shapes and sizes, and extra letters in their names told you what kind of package they were in.

These parts were not good for jobs that needed precise control, like making exact voltages, but they were used for special jobs, like creating timing signals or making oscillators that could keep a steady beat.

History

The 7400 series became the standard for these tiny parts, even though there were other types before it. Some of these earlier types were made by companies like Sylvania, Motorola, National Semiconductor, Fairchild, and Signetics.

The very first part in the 7400 series was introduced by Texas Instruments in 1964. It was made in a special metal package for use in tough conditions. A more common version in a plastic package came out in 1966 and became very popular.

These parts were used in many early computers during the 1970s and 1980s. For example, some models of the DEC PDP-series computers and the Data General Nova series used these parts for their main computing work.

In 1965, one of these parts cost about 22 US dollars, but by 2007, they could be bought for around 25 cents each, depending on the exact type.

Main article: Transistor–transistor logic § History

Families

The 7400 series parts were built using special tiny parts called bipolar junction transistors, which are known as transistor–transistor logic or TTL. Newer versions that work similarly use a different technology called CMOS, or a mix of both.

These chips were once faster but used more power. Some versions can handle very hot or cold temperatures, and others are made to work in space-like conditions. Over time, many versions have been made to work with different voltages and speeds, keeping the same basic names so people can tell what they do.

Part numbering

See also: List of 7400-series integrated circuits

The way companies named these tiny parts changed a lot. Usually, the name starts with letters that tell you who made it and what kind it is. For example:

• SN: Made by Texas Instruments
• M: Made by ST Microelectronics
• DM: Made by National Semiconductor

Next come numbers that tell you how tough the part is — like if it can handle hot or cold places. Then more letters show what type of technology it uses. Finally, more numbers tell you what the part actually does, like controlling electricity in a certain way.

For example, "SN5400N" means it was likely made by Texas Instruments, can handle military-grade temperatures, and does a specific job with electricity. Many of these parts can swap places in circuits, making designs easier. But some special types don’t fit perfectly with others.

Second sources from Europe and Eastern Bloc

Some manufacturers in Europe, like Mullard and Siemens, made parts that worked with the 7400 series but used different numbers to identify them.

During the time the 7400 series was made, some European companies, like Philips and Mullard, created their own version of these circuits with names starting with FJ. The Soviet Union also began making these circuits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These Soviet versions looked similar to the ones from the United States but had a different spacing between pins and a unique brownish-green color, sometimes called "elephant-dung packaging" because of how it looked.

The Soviet Union used different names for their circuits. They had special codes to show what each circuit did and how it was built. Other countries in the Eastern Bloc, like Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and East Germany, also made their own versions of the 7400 series, each with their own naming systems.

Production of these standard logic circuits stopped in most Eastern European countries around 1990, except in the Soviet Union and later in Russia and Belarus. As of 2016, several versions were still being made in factories in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.