A single-gate inverting buffer that's now a scavenger hunt
The Texas Instruments SN74LVC1G240YEPR is a single-element inverting buffer from the 74LVC family, with a 3-state output that lets you float the pin when the output-enable goes high. It's the kind of part you'd find sprinkled across a dense PCB as a signal conditioner or a bus-isolation gate — one channel, one bit, doing one job. The 1.65V to 5.5V supply range means it can sit on a 1.8V FPGA bank or a 5V legacy bus without a level translator, and the 32mA symmetric output drive is enough to light a small LED or drive a short backplane trace. But the real story here is the package: a 5-bump DSBGA measuring 1.4x0.9mm, which is tiny enough that rework requires a hot-air station with a fine nozzle and steady hands.
The lifecycle record marks this part obsolete. Procurement now relies on surplus and broker channels.
Sourcing reality: quoted to order, not on the shelf
Because the SN74LVC1G240YEPR is obsolete, you won't find it in regular distribution stock. It's sourced through independent channels — broker inventory, surplus lots, or NOS (new old stock) from contract manufacturers who overbought. Every lot needs a quick authenticity check: the DSBGA package is easy to counterfeit with a re-marked die, so verify the top-mark laser etch and compare against TI's known good units. No stock promises, no lead-time numbers — just a real-world sourcing picture for a part that's no longer in production.