4046C

4046C is a designation used for a CMOS integrated circuit in the 4000 series family, commonly associated with a phase-locked loop (PLL) device that includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The 4046C variant represents a revision of the basic 4046 family, with changes intended to improve performance, power characteristics, or compatibility in different manufacturing processes.

In operation, the device is described as a PLL with a VCO. It provides a reference input that, when combined with a phase detector and feedback network, allows the VCO output frequency to lock to the reference frequency. The architecture is suited to maintaining a stable output frequency and can be used for frequency synthesis, modulation/demodulation tasks, clock generation, or timing applications in analog and mixed-signal circuits.

Applications for 4046C and related devices include radio frequency front ends, signal processing chains, tone decoding, and clock recovery in digital systems. It is commonly employed in hobbyist projects and educational electronics to demonstrate PLL concepts, as well as in some commercial designs that require simple, compact PLL/VCO solutions.

Availability and compatibility vary by manufacturer, as suffix revisions like “C” indicate updated versions within the 4046 family. While newer components may exist, the 4046C continues to be referenced in older schematics and catalogs. It is typically discussed alongside other 4000-series devices (such as the CD4046) that share CMOS process characteristics and pin-compatible design philosophy.