Synchronous reset — the spec that decides the fit
The SN74HC163PWR is a 4-bit synchronous binary counter from TI's 74HC family. Its defining feature is a synchronous reset — the counter clears on the next rising clock edge, not immediately when the reset line goes low. This matters in designs where the reset timing must align with the clock domain, avoiding the glitch window that an asynchronous reset can introduce. The part counts up only, triggered on the positive edge, with a maximum count rate of 36 MHz.
Lifecycle and sourcing posture
TI lists the SN74HC163PWR as Active and ROHS3 compliant.
