74172

74172 is a digital integrated circuit belonging to the 7400 series of transistor-transistor logic (TTL) devices. It is specifically a 4-bit bidirectional universal shift register. This means it can shift data either to the left or to the right, and it can perform other logical operations as well. The "universal" designation indicates its flexibility in performing various data manipulation tasks.

The 74172 contains four flip-flops, which are the basic building blocks for storing individual bits of data. It has serial and parallel input/output capabilities, allowing data to enter or leave the register one bit at a time or all at once. Control signals determine the direction of the shift (left or right) and whether the register is performing a shift operation or loading data in parallel. It also includes features for clearing the register to all zeros.

This integrated circuit was designed for applications requiring data storage and manipulation in sequential digital systems. Examples include data buffering, serial-to-parallel conversion, parallel-to-serial conversion, and implementing simple counters or delay lines. Its bidirectional nature and universal functionality made it a versatile component in the design of early digital systems. The device typically operates from a single 5-volt power supply.