I've got a circuit that has a Hex Buffer (specifically, a TI SN74LVC07A).I'm trying to determine what this chip does - what its function is. Ireviewed the datasheet, but it doesn't tell me anything - at least not in away I can understand.(yes, I'm a newbie at this stuff.)-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------DataGet® & PocketLog® Data Collectors --------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hex" in this case just means there's 6 of 'em. (Not hexadecimal, which would be 16, just hex - no decimal.)Ok - the 7407 generic part is a 6-way open-drain buffer.(Available in various logic families since the 70s.) This means that there are 6 buffers, each with a logic family-compatible input, and each with an output which is capable of sinking some (depending on family) current, and no inversion (i.e. a HIGH input means high output, i.e. no sink, and a LOW input means a low output, i.e. the output is sinking current).Does that help?Steve

What is a Hex buffer?

Jun 23, 2006 27 Replies

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Baxter 20 years ago

which

I understand it fine. However, for something like 20 years in my world, "Octal" meant an 8-bit value represented by a base-8 numbering system, while "Hex" means "Hexadecimal" which is a 16-bit value represented by a base-16 numbering system. I'm simply saying that, in my (software) environment, I'm used to "octal" being smaller than "hex". Thinking of it otherwise does not come natural.

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Baxter 20 years ago

Ok, now this starts making some sense. The input pins on the buffer are connected to the Serial output of a Palm. We're talking the RxD, TxD, RTS, CTS, etc.

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Baxter 20 years ago

Exactly right.

Berg is a stalker. I prefer not to engage him in technical forums, and leave any interactions with him to the entertainment (political) forums.

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Vadim Barshaw 20 years ago

Hmm... Then how would you express 32-bit values? And 11-bit values? Sorry, couldn't resist, but it's Friday night anyway :)

Vadim

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Steve at fivetrees 20 years ago

I presume that was a typo. An octal digit represents a 3-bit value. A hexadecimal digit represents a 4-bit value.

But I bet you knew that, really ;).

Steve

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Thad Smith 20 years ago

I presume it was a thinko.

Yes, but keeping more with the derivation, an octal digit can represent

8 possible values and a hexadecimal digit can represent 16 possible values. Back in seventh grade math class, we worked with base 7 and base 12 (septal and duodecimal?).

As far as shortening hexadecimal to hex and getting confused, that what often happens with usage over time. I am guilty of abbreviating a mu, prefix for micro, with a similar looking Roman u. Some people probably think that "us" is the proper abbreviation for microseconds (uF, uV, uW, etc.). The ones that get me going are the use of capital S for seconds (SI symbol for Siemens) and K for kilo.

Thad

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Peter 20 years ago

Of course you can use the correct abbreviation to deliberately confuse the general public. I saw a model railway in a visitor centre with warnings saying "Beware, High Voltage!!! 36,000mV".

Peter

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David R Brooks 20 years ago

My grandfather (many years ago) told me of doing that, in the 1920's: "Danger! 4000mV" Kept the fingerpokers well away :)

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