CD4050BD - Hex Non-Inverting CMOS Buffer, 3-18V, 16-SOIC | Texas Instruments
MPN: CD4050BD ✓ ActiveCD4050BD Overview
What is a hex non-inverting buffer? A buffer is a logic IC that reproduces the logic level of its input at its output without inversion, adding gain and drive strength rather than changing the boolean function. The CD4050 belongs to the RCA CD4000 CMOS logic family, whose defining characteristic is wide supply-voltage tolerance from 3 V up to 18 V, allowing one device to interface 3.3 V, 5 V, 9 V and 15 V CMOS domains. Within the logic hierarchy, CD4050 is a buffer/converter (line driver) rather than a gate, and the six-element arrangement makes it a hex part.
Key features include six non-inverting channels, push-pull output stages that source and sink current symmetrically, and single-supply operation that also permits input levels above VCC for level conversion. Because the outputs are push-pull rather than open-drain, no external pull-up resistors are required and the part drives capacitive bus loads directly. The 16-SOIC (0.154 inch, 3.90 mm width) surface-mount package is a legacy-standard footprint still widely supported by assembly houses and compatible with automated pick-and-place lines.
Technically the part uses complementary CMOS (CMOS) construction, giving high noise immunity and low static power consumption across the supply range. Because it is a converter-class device, input thresholds track the supply rails rather than being fixed to a single logic standard, which is the mechanism that makes single-supply level shifting possible. Its main limitation versus modern rail-to-rail buffers is speed: the CD4000-family propagation delay is on the order of tens of nanoseconds, far slower than CMOS logic buffers such as the 74HC04 class.
Typical uses include buffering long TTL or CMOS bus lines, level translation between 3.3 V, 5 V and higher-voltage CMOS domains, driving heavier loads than a plain gate can handle, and isolating control signals in industrial, instrumentation and legacy 4000-series designs where mixed-voltage CMOS logic still appears.
A key design consideration is that CD4000-family parts draw supply current that rises with switching frequency, so the supply rail must be able to absorb dynamic current while maintaining a stable ground reference; a 0.1 uF bypass capacitor close to pin 14 is standard practice. Because this is a mature, cost-optimized part, designers migrating to 74HC/74HCT logic should re-check timing margins and input-level compatibility rather than assuming interchangeability.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, same-footprint drop-in alternatives and practical layout guidance that are not collected in any single manufacturer document, giving engineers a single reference before committing to the CD4050BD on a new board.
Drop-in alternatives for CD4050BD — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
CD4050BDW
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
CD4050BDRG4
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
CD4050BDR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC14050BDG
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC14050BD
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
CD4050BD Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Type | Hex non-inverting buffer / converter (CMOS) |
| Number of Elements | 6 |
| Bits per Element | 1 |
| Output Type | Push-pull |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3 V to 18 V |
| Package | 16-SOIC (0.154 in / 3.90 mm width) |
| Number of Pins | 16 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Logic Family | CD4000 series CMOS |
| Level Conversion | Single-supply conversion; input high level may exceed VCC |
| Supplier Packaging | Tube (16-pin SOIC) |
CD4050BD Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IN1 — Non-inverting input, channel 1 |
| Pin 2 | IN2 — Non-inverting input, channel 2 |
| Pin 3 | IN3 — Non-inverting input, channel 3 |
| Pin 4 | IN4 — Non-inverting input, channel 4 |
| Pin 5 | IN5 — Non-inverting input, channel 5 |
| Pin 6 | IN6 — Non-inverting input, channel 6 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground (0 V) reference |
| Pin 8 | OUT6 — Push-pull non-inverting output, channel 6 |
| Pin 9 | OUT5 — Push-pull non-inverting output, channel 5 |
| Pin 10 | OUT4 — Push-pull non-inverting output, channel 4 |
| Pin 11 | OUT3 — Push-pull non-inverting output, channel 3 |
| Pin 12 | OUT2 — Push-pull non-inverting output, channel 2 |
| Pin 13 | OUT1 — Push-pull non-inverting output, channel 1 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply, 3 V to 18 V |
| Pin 15 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 16 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
CD4050BD is suitable for 6 applications: CMOS Logic-Level Conversion, Industrial Control Signal Buffering, Legacy 4000-Series Logic Retrofit, TTL-to-CMOS Interface Bridging, Test and Measurement Front Panels, Battery and Low-Voltage Portable Equipment.
CMOS Logic-Level Conversion
The CD4050BD is powered from a single supply while its input thresholds track VCC, and cross-reference documentation for the family confirms that the input high level may exceed the VCC rail. That behaviour makes the six non-inverting channels ideal for translating between 3.3 V, 5 V, 9 V and 15 V CMOS domains without a dual-supply translator. Each channel provides push-pull drive rather than an open-drain output, so no pull-up resistors are required on the destination side. The trade-off is speed: CD4000-family propagation delay is in the tens of nanoseconds, so the part suits control and status buses rather than high-rate data links, where a 74LVC-family translator would be preferred.
Recommended
Industrial Control Signal Buffering
Industrial control boards frequently mix a low-voltage digital core with higher-voltage field-level CMOS signals. The CD4050BD supplies six non-inverting channels that regenerate degraded or heavily loaded control lines while running from a single 3 V to 18 V supply rail, so one device covers wide-ranging legacy field interfaces. Push-pull outputs source and sink current symmetrically, which avoids the slow rising edges and static level shift typical of open-drain pass devices, keeping transition times predictable for downstream counters, relays and data latches. Note that CD4000-family dynamic current grows with switching frequency, so the supply must absorb fast edges and a 0.1 uF bypass capacitor is recommended at pin 14.
Recommended
Legacy 4000-Series Logic Retrofit
A large installed base of industrial, instrumentation and broadcast equipment was built around the RCA CD4000 CMOS family, and the CD4050BD lets a modern board substitute into those sockets without re-engineering the logic. Because the family operates from 3 V to 18 V and the CD4050BD is a six-element non-inverting buffer, existing CD4050 or MC14050 sockets accept it directly with no footprint change. Compatibility checks should focus on three items: propagation delay versus the original timing budget, input level thresholds at the chosen VCC, and whether the surrounding circuit expects an open-drain or push-pull output. Modern HC-family parts are generally not drop-in for CD4000 sockets.
Recommended
TTL-to-CMOS Interface Bridging
Where a TTL output must drive a slower, wider-swing CMOS section, the CD4050BD provides the required logic-level translation in one package while simultaneously restoring drive strength on degraded lines. Its six non-inverting channels can also be used in parallel pairs as inverting stages when a spare inverter is needed, though that consumes two channels per inversion. Because the input thresholds of the family scale with VCC, a 5 V-supplied CD4050BD presents a higher input threshold than a 3.3 V part, so the TTL driver margin must be checked against the actual VCC chosen for the CMOS island. Push-pull outputs keep rise and fall times sharp at the receiving gate.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Front Panels
Laboratory and ATE front panels frequently mix legacy CMOS logic with newer instrumentation processors, and the CD4050BD is a straightforward way to isolate the two domains. The six non-inverting channels can buffer panel-mounted control lines, mode selects and relay drivers so that slow or noisy mechanical wiring does not disturb the digital core. Operating from the same single rail as the rest of the CD4000 logic in the instrument keeps the bill of materials simple, while the push-pull output stage ensures relay driver and latch inputs see clean transitions. Because the part is a mature, low-cost CD4000-family device it is easy to stock alongside the rest of the panel logic for field service.
Recommended
Battery and Low-Voltage Portable Equipment
In battery-powered instruments the CD4050BD can buffer and level-shift control lines between a 3 V to 5 V rail and CMOS peripherals operating at a different threshold, using only one supply rail for the translator. CD4000-family CMOS draws low static current, which matters when the device spends most of its life in a powered-down or lightly loaded state, and the part is available in SOIC-16 in tubes and reels at low unit cost. The engineering caveat is dynamic rather than static: supply current rises with switching frequency, so heavily toggled lines should be counted against the standby budget, and the input thresholds at low VCC must be respected by the driving device.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for CD4050BD — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | CD4050BDW | CD4050BDRG4 | CD4050BDR | MC14050BDG | MC14050BD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-SOIC (0.154 in / 3.90 mm width) | 16-SOIC - same land pattern | 16-SOIC - same land pattern | 16-SOIC - same land pattern | 16-SOIC - same land pattern | 16-SOIC - same land pattern |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | onsemi | onsemi |
| Function | Hex non-inverting buffer / converter (CD4000 CMOS) | Hex non-inverting buffer / converter - identical | Hex non-inverting buffer / converter - identical | Hex non-inverting buffer / converter - identical | Hex non-inverting buffer - stated functionally equivalent | Hex non-inverting buffer - same function |
| Number of Elements / Bits per Element | 6 elements / 1 bit per element | 6 elements / 1 bit per element | 6 elements / 1 bit per element | 6 elements / 1 bit per element | 6 elements / 1 bit per element | 6 elements / 1 bit per element |
| Output Type | Push-pull | Push-pull | Push-pull | Push-pull | Push-pull (stated identical output structure) | Push-pull |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3 V to 18 V | 3 V to 18 V | 3 V to 18 V | 3 V to 18 V | 3 V to 18 V (identical per cross-reference) | 3 V to 18 V |
| Logic Level Conversion Capability | Yes - single supply, input high level may exceed VCC | Yes - same converter behaviour | Yes - same converter behaviour | Yes - same converter behaviour | Yes - stated functionally equivalent converter | Yes |
| Supplier Packaging / Order Code | 16-SOIC, tube | 16-SOIC, tube | 16-SOIC, tape and reel (green) | 16-SOIC, tape and reel | 16-SOIC, tape and reel | 16-SOIC |
Key Differentiators
- Documented pin-compatible second source across manufacturers (vs MC14050BDG)
- Hex non-inverting configuration with push-pull outputs in a legacy-standard 16-SOIC footprint (vs SN74HC244DR)
- Single-supply level conversion over a very wide rail range (vs SN74LVC8T245DR)
- Low unit cost with mature, widely stocked supply chain (vs MC14050BDG)
Design Notes
Decouple the CD4050BD with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed between pin 14 (VDD) and pin 7 (VSS) as close to the pins as the layout allows. CD4000-family CMOS supply current is dominated by dynamic (capacitive) consumption that scales with switching frequency and load capacitance, so heavily toggled channels can produce fast current edges that couple into adjacent analog sections. Add a bulk 1 uF to 10 uF ceramic on the same rail close to the device if the supply line is long or shared with switching converters.
Keep the VSS connection short and use a solid ground plane rather than a routed trace, because the six switching outputs return their current through the supply pins. Place the bypass capacitor on the supply side of the package so switching current does not share a trace segment with the analog ground reference. For level-conversion use, route the source and destination ground references together to a single common point so that the level-shift threshold referenced to VSS is not corrupted by ground bounce between the two logic islands.
Do not treat a CD4050BD socket as interchangeable with a 74HC04 or 74HCT04 without re-checking timing and logic levels: the CD4000 family is much slower (tens of nanoseconds propagation delay) and its input thresholds track VCC, while HC parts are fixed-standard and far faster. Also remember that the 4050 is non-inverting, so an inverting stage requires tying two channels together or adding a following inverter. Verify absolute maximum ratings, including the VDD-to-VSS limit, directly in the manufacturer datasheet before energizing the device.
Compliance Information
The reviewed sources (DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC, Heisener, Octopart) did not explicitly state RoHS, REACH, halogen-free or conflict-minerals status for the CD4050BD ordering code, so all are recorded as unknown rather than assumed. Green/lead-free-marked variants exist in the family as separate order codes (for example CD4050BDRG4). AEC-Q100 is recorded as not_applicable because the CD4050BD ordering code is a commercial part, not an automotive-qualified variant.
