Re: Supply voltage range
twolevel2002,
Most ICs are constructed on a substrate consisting of P++ material. A "well" of N type material is then embedded in the substrate. The IC depends on the reverse biased diode formed by the N type well and the P++ substrate to keep the indiviual elements of the IC from shorting together. a voltage of -.3 volts is the maximum that can be applied without forward biasing the "substrate diode" and shorting everything together.
Regards,
Kral