NXP 74HC164PW: An In-Depth Technical Overview of the 8-Bit Serial-In Parallel-Out Shift Register

The NXP 74HC164PW is a high-speed CMOS logic device belonging to the 74HC family, designed as an 8-bit serial-in, parallel-out shift register. This integrated circuit is a fundamental building block in digital systems, enabling the conversion of serial data streams into parallel outputs, which is essential for applications like I/O expansion, data storage, and waveform generation. Housed in a TSSOP-14 package, the 74HC164PW combines compact form factor with robust performance, making it suitable for space-constrained PCB designs.

Key Features and Functionality

The core operation of the 74HC164PW involves shifting data bits sequentially through its internal registers based on clock pulses. It features two serial data inputs (DSA and DSB), which are ANDed together internally, allowing for flexible data entry control. A positive-edge-triggered clock input (CP) advances the data through the eight stages on each low-to-high transition. Additionally, a master reset input (MR), active low, clears all register outputs to low logic levels asynchronously, providing immediate initialization.

The device operates with a wide supply voltage range of 2 V to 6 V, supporting compatibility with various logic families. Its high-noise immunity and low power consumption, characteristic of CMOS technology, ensure reliability in noisy environments. The parallel outputs (Q0 to Q7) are buffered, delivering standard CMOS output levels capable of driving up to 10 LSTTL loads.

Applications

The 74HC164PW is widely used in digital systems for tasks such as LED matrix driving, where serial data controls multiple LEDs efficiently with minimal microcontroller pins. It also serves in serial-to-parallel data conversion for interfacing peripherals, data processing pipelines, and control systems requiring multiple output signals.

Performance Characteristics

With a typical propagation delay of 13 ns at 5 V, the IC supports high-speed data shifting. The power dissipation is low, typically around 10 μW per register at static conditions, making it energy-efficient for battery-operated devices.

ICGOODFIND: The NXP 74HC164PW is a versatile and efficient solution for serial data expansion, offering high speed, low power, and reliable performance in a compact package, ideal for modern digital designs.

Keywords:

Shift Register, Serial-In Parallel-Out, CMOS Logic, Data Conversion, NXP Semiconductors