SN74HC139: About absolute maximum ratings

The datasheet does not list voltage ratings because the voltage is clamped by the ESD protection diodes (see the typical characteristics below), and those diodes will be damaged by overcurrent before any effects due to overvoltage happen.

If your circuit has voltages lower than 0 V or higher than V_CC, then you must limit the clamp current (usually with series resistors).

(At the inputs, exceeding the rails by less than one diode drop does not allow clamp current to flow. So you can assume that V_I is limited by −0.5 V and V_CC + 0.5 V.)

Tsukui,

Please avoid referencing or designing by the abs max ratings. The recommended operating conditions gives the input and output voltage range which is up to Vcc as Clemens has suggested. The absmax rating table gives the input/output limiting clamp current.

For the reasons given above, the SN74HC139 is guaranteed to not be damaged by overvoltage when V_I and V_O are between −0.5 V and V_CC + 0.5 V. This implies that you can take these as absolute maximum ratings, i.e., the SN74HC139 is perfectly compatible with the TC74HC139 in this regard.