Product Overview
CMOS 4-Digit Counter IC with Multiplexed 7-Segment Drivers - 18-Pin DIP, 1816 Date Code
Condition
Unused NOS. Black 18-pin DIP body marked MM74C926N with National Semiconductor logo and date code 1816 (mid-1978 production run). Pins straight and clean with no visible damage. Sourced from an electronics distributor consolidating inventory.
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Product Overview
National Semiconductor MM74C926N - CMOS 4-digit counter with multiplexed 7-segment output drivers in an 18-pin DIP package. A single-chip solution that counts, latches, and drives a 4-digit common-cathode 7-segment LED display with no external multiplexing logic required. Part of the 74C CMOS series, operating from a 3V to 6V supply.
Key Features
- CMOS 4-digit counter with multiplexed 7-segment output drivers
- Internal output latch holds display stable during count transitions
- Free-running multiplexing oscillator - no external timing components required
- NPN segment sourcing drivers - up to 40mA per segment
- Active-high asynchronous reset
- 3V to 6V supply range, low-power CMOS operation
- Package: 18-pin DIP (MM74C926N)
- Date code 1816 - mid-1978 production
Applications
- Desoldering a failed MM74C926N from a vintage frequency counter or bench multimeter and dropping this NOS unit in to restore original display function without any circuit redesign
- Replacing the counter IC in a 1970s-era digital clock kit where the original chip has failed and a modern substitute would require rewiring
- Restoring an arcade scoreboard or vintage scorekeeping display that used the 74C926 as the primary digit driver
- Breadboard experiments demonstrating multiplexed display driving and BCD counting for electronics students learning foundational digital logic
- Building a simple 4-digit event counter or pulse counter for a maker project using period-correct CMOS logic
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this work with common-anode 7-segment displays?
No. The MM74C926N drives common-cathode 7-segment LED displays. Common-anode displays are not compatible without external inversion circuitry.
What supply voltage does this require?
3V to 6V DC. The chip operates across this range with low-power CMOS consumption.
Is a datasheet or documentation included?
Not included. This is the IC only.
How does this differ from the MM74C925, MM74C927, and MM74C928?
The MM74C925 is a 4-digit counter with output latches but lacks the internal multiplexing oscillator and segment drivers of the MM74C926N. The MM74C927 and MM74C928 share the same basic architecture but differ in output configurations. The MM74C926N is the version with the built-in free-running multiplexing oscillator and NPN segment drivers in the 18-pin DIP package.
What does the 1816 date code indicate?
1816 is a lot/date code indicating mid-1978 production. The chip is unused NOS - it has not been installed or powered.
A mid-1978 chip that never found its board - until now. Whatever vintage counter or display project has been waiting on this exact part, the wait is over.
