The CD74HC541M is a single-element octal (8-bit) non-inverting buffer with 3-state outputs, part of Texas Instruments' 74HC high-speed CMOS logic family. The 7.8 mA source and sink capability per output (rated at the supply midpoint) is typical for HC logic — it drives a single LSTTL load or a short PCB trace, but not a long backplane or a high-capacitance bus. For a 50 pF load at 5V, the propagation delay is roughly 10-12 ns, which keeps the bus timing within spec for most 8-bit parallel interfaces at clock rates under 20 MHz. Housed in a 20-SOIC wide-body package (7.50 mm body width), the footprint matches the standard SOIC-20W land pattern.
Temperature grade and environment
This matters for designs that see thermal cycling from cold-soak to under-hood heat — the HC logic family's CMOS symmetrical switching threshold stays within 1.5V ±0.5V across the entire range, unlike bipolar logic whose thresholds drift with temperature. The wide temperature grade means the part is suitable for avionics bay, engine-compartment electronics, outdoor telecom cabinets, and downhole instrumentation where the ambient exceeds the commercial 70°C or industrial 85°C ceiling. No derating of output current is required below 85°C; above that, the 7.8 mA figure holds to 125°C but the thermal impedance of the SOIC package limits total power dissipation to roughly 500 mW in still air.
Lifecycle and compliance
No official successor or cross-reference has been issued by TI; the 74HC541 function is a standard catalog logic part that has been continuously produced for decades.