What the open collector output means on a 20-DIP transceiver
The SN74LS644-1N: This is an 8-bit transceiver with inverting logic and open collector outputs — the 24 mA sink current at logic low (with 100 µA source high) lets it drive relays, optocouplers, or bus lines that need a wired-AND configuration, common in 5 V TTL backplanes where multiple drivers share a pull-up.
