What this hex buffer does on your board
The CD4050BDW is a six-channel non-inverting buffer from the 4000B series, each channel handling one bit with push-pull output. Supply range spans 3V to 18V, making it suitable for interfacing legacy 5V logic to 3.3V or 12V peripherals without a separate level shifter. Outputs source 8 mA and sink 48 mA per channel, enough to drive a standard logic input or a small LED indicator directly. The wide-body 16-SOIC package (0.295" width) and surface-mount footprint fit standard PCB assembly lines. Operating temperature covers -55°C to 125°C, so the part can sit in an engine bay, a satellite power supply, or a downhole tool without derating concerns.
Supply voltage — why 3V to 18V matters
A buffer that runs from 3V to 18V means you can use it on a mixed-voltage board without adding a secondary regulator for the logic rail. The 4000B family is known for its wide supply tolerance, and this part takes full advantage: it works with a 3.3V microcontroller output on one side and a 12V industrial sensor input on the other. No level translation IC needed between them — just the buffer.
Output drive — 8 mA source, 48 mA sink
The asymmetric drive — 8 mA sourcing, 48 mA sinking — is typical of CMOS buffers optimised for driving capacitive loads or TTL inputs. The higher sink current handles fan-out to multiple CMOS gates or a relay driver transistor. If you need to drive a heavy load like a small relay coil, you will want an external transistor; the buffer itself is a signal-level part, not a power driver.
Temperature range and deployment context
Rated for -55°C to 125°C, the CD4050BDW covers military and industrial extremes. This is the same temperature grade used in avionics, missile guidance, satellite power management, and downhole drilling instrumentation. If your BOM calls for a buffer that must hold its logic levels across a thermal cycle from a cold soak to full load, this part handles it without a separate industrial-grade variant.
Lifecycle and compliance
No last-time-buy notice or end-of-life risk for new designs. ROHS3 compliant, so it meets current European and global environmental directives.