Chapter Three

Sequential Circuit
Sequential circuits

➢ The current output of a sequential circuit depends on the current input and the current
state of that circuit.

Flip-flops
➢ Is the simplest form of sequential circuit.

➢ There are a variety of flip flops, all of which share two properties:

1. The flip-flop is a bi-stable device, it exists in one of two stable states

2. The flip-flop has two outputs, which are always the complements of each other.
These are generally labeled Q and Q’ (Q complement).
CONT’D…

➢ A Flip-flop is a binary cell capable of storing one bit of information.

➢ It has two outputs, one for the normal value and one for the complement value of the bit

stored in it.

➢ Flip-flops are storage elements utilized in synchronous sequential circuits.

CONT’D…

➢ Synchronous sequential circuits employ signals that effect storage elements only at discrete

instances of time.

➢ A timing device called a clock pulse generator that produces a periodic train of clock pulses

achieves synchronization.

➢ Values maintained in the storage elements can only change when the clock pulses.

➢ Hence, a flip-flop maintains a binary state until directed by a clock pulse to switch states.
CONT’D…

➢ The difference in the types of flip flops is in the number of inputs and the manner in which

the inputs affect the binary state.

➢ Flip-flops can be described by a characteristic table which permutated all possible inputs

(just like a truth table).

➢ The characteristic table of a flip-flop describes all possible outputs (called the next state)

at time Q(t+1) over all possible inputs and the present state at time Q(t).
 The most common types of flip flops are:
➢ SR Flip-Flop
➢ D Flip-Flop
➢ JK Flip-Flop
➢ T Flip-Flop

SR Flip-Flop or S-R Latch

Has 3 Inputs: Graphic symbol

Truth table

▪S (for set)
▪R (for reset)
▪C(for Clock)
Has 2 Outputs:
▪Q
▪Q'
 CONT’D…

➢ The operation of the SR flip-flop is as follow.

➢ If there is no signal at the clock input C, the output of the circuit cannot change irrespective of the

values at inputs S and R.

➢ Only when the clock signals changes from 0 to 1 can the output be affected according to the values

in inputs S and R

➢ If S =1 and R = 0 when C changes when C changes from 0 to 1 output Q is set to 1.

CONT’D…

➢ If S = 0 and R =1 when C changes from 0 to 1output Q is cleared to 0.

➢ If both S and R are 0 during the clock transition, output does not change.

➢ When both S and R are equal to 1, the output is unpredictable and may go to either 0 or

1, depending on internal timing that occur within the circuit.

 D Flip-Flop:
= slight modifications of SR flip-flops

Inputs: Graphics Symbol

D (for data)
C (for clock)
Outputs:
Q
Q'
JK Flip-Flop : is the refinements of the SR flip-flops in that indeterminate conditions of the SR type
and is defined in the JK types.
-if inputs J& K are both equal to 1 a clock transition switches the outputs of the flip-flops to their
complement state.
Inputs: Graphics Symbol
J
K
C
Outputs:
Q &Q'
T Flip-Flop : is obtained from a JK types when inputs J& K are connected to provide single
inputs designed by T.

➢ the T flip flops has only two conditions

I. When T=0(J=K=0) a clock transition does not change the state of the flip-flops
II. When T=1(J=K=1) a clock transition complements the state of the flip-flops

Inputs:
T (for toggle)
C (for clock)
Outputs:
Q &Q‘
The T flip flops can be expressed by this equation: Q(t+1)=Q(t) XOR T

Edge – Triggered Flip-flops

➢ Most common types of flip flops used synchronize the state change during a clock
transition is the edge-triggered flip- flops.
CONT’D…

➢ Most flip-flops are edge-triggered flip-flops (i.e. the transition occurs at a specific level of

the clock pulse) .

➢ A positive-edge transition occurs on the rising edge of the clock signal.

➢ A negative-edge transition occurs on the falling edge of the clock signal.

 CONT’D…
Master Slave flip-flops

➢ Consists of two flip-flop

✓ The 1st is the Master, w/h responds to the positive level of the clock and

✓ The 2nd is the Slave, w/h responds to the negative level of the clock.

• E.g. The result changes from 0 to 1 transitions of the clock signals.

➢ Flip-flops can also include special input terminals for setting or clearing the flip-flop asynchronously.

➢ These inputs are usually called preset and clear and are useful for initialing the flip-flops before

clocked operations are initiated.

CONT’D…

Registers
➢ A register is a group of flip-flops with each flip-flop capable of storing one bit of information.

➢ An n-bit register has a group of n flip-flops.

➢ A register may also have combinational gates that perform certain data-processing tasks.

➢ The flip-flops hold the data and the gates control when and how new data is transferred
into the register.

➢ The flip-flops have a common clock input.

➢ A common clear input is available to reset all the flip-flops asynchronously.

CONT’D…

Fig 1.24 4 bit Registers

CONT’D…

➢ The transfer of new data into a register is called loading the register

➢ If all bits are loaded simultaneously with a common clock pulse transition, then the

loading is done in parallel

➢ The load input determines the action to be taken with each clock pulse

➢ If the load input is 1, then the data in the four inputs are transferred at the next positive

clock transition.
CONT’D…

➢ If the load input is 0, the data inputs are inhibited and the output is fed back to simulate a

no change condition

➢ Two basic types of registers are commonly used:

1. parallel registers and

2. shift registers.
CONT’D…
➢ NB: Figure 1.25 illustrates the operation of a parallel register using D flip-flops.

Fig 1.25 8 bit parallel register

 CONT’D…
SHIFT REGISTER:

➢ A shift register accepts and/or transfers information serially.

➢ A shift register is capable of shifting its binary information in one or both directions

➢ The logical configuration is a chain of flip-flops, with the output of one connected to the input of the next

➢ The serial input determines what goes into the leftmost position during the shift

➢ The serial output is taken from the output of the rightmost flip-flop

Fig 1.26 :5-bit shift register

CONT’D…

➢ A bi-directional shift register can shift in both directions

➢ The most general shift register has all the following capabilities:

✓ An input for clock pulses to synchronize all operations

✓ A shift-right operation and a serial input line associated with the shift-right

✓ A shift-left operation and a serial input line associated with the shift-left

✓ A parallel load operation and n input lines associated with the parallel transfer

✓ n parallel output lines.

 Binary Counters

➢ A register that goes through a predetermined sequence of states upon the application of input

pulses is called a counter

➢ The input pulses may be a clock or an external input

➢ The input may occur at uniform intervals of time or randomly

➢ Used to count the number of occurrences of an event and for generating timing signals to control

the sequence of operations

➢ A counter that follows the binary number sequence is a binary counter.

CONT’D…
➢ An n-bit binary counter is a register of n flip-flops and gates that follow a sequence of states

➢ Consider the sequence 0000, 0001, 0010, 0011, 1000, …

➢ The lsb is complemented on each count

➢ Every other bit is complemented iff all its lower-order bits are equal to 1.

➢ Natural to use either T or JK flip-flops since they both have a complement state

➢ The counter has an enable input

➢ Synchronous counters have a regular pattern with a common clock

➢ The chain of AND gates generate the logic for the flip-flop inputs.
CONT’D…

Fig 1.27 4 bit synchronous binary counter

Memory Unit

➢ A memory unit is a collection of storage cells together with associated circuits to transfer
information in and out of storage

➢ The memory stores binary data in groups of bits called words

➢ A word can represent an instruction code or alphanumeric characters

➢ Each word in memory is assigned an address from 0 to 2k –1, where k is the number of
address lines.
CONT’D…

➢ A decoder inside the memory accepts an address opens the paths needed to select the bits of the

specified word

➢ The memory capacity is stated as the total number of bytes that can be stored

➢ Refer to the number of bytes using one of the following

➢ K (kilo) = 210 M (mega) = 220

➢ G (giga) = 230 64K = 216, 2M = 221, and 4G = 232

CONT’D…

➢ In random-access memory (RAM) the memory cells can be accessed for information from

any desired random location.

➢ The process of locating a word in memory is the same and requires an equal amount of

time no matter where the cells are located physically in memory.

➢ Communication between memory and its environment is achieved via data input and

output lines, address selections lines, and control lines.

CONT’D…

➢ The n data input lines provide the information to be stored in memory

➢ The n data output lines supply the information coming out of memory

➢ The k address lines provide a binary number of k bits that specify a specific word or location

➢ The two control lines specify the direction of transfer – either read or write.
CONT’D…

Steps to write to memory:

✓ Apply the binary address of the desired word into the address lines
✓ Apply the data bits that are to be stored in memory on the data lines
✓ Activate the write input
CONT’D…

➢ Steps to read from memory:

✓ Apply the binary address of the desired word into the address lines

✓ Activate the read input

➢ A read-only memory (ROM) is a memory unit that performs the read operation only; there is
no write capability

➢ The binary information stored in a ROM is permanent during the hardware production.
CONT’D…

➢ RAM is a general-purpose device whose contents can be altered

➢ The information in ROM forms the required interconnection pattern

➢ ROMs come with special internal electronic fuses that can be programmed for a specific

configuration

➢ An m x n ROM is an array of binary cells organized into m words of n bits each.

CONT’D…
➢ A ROM has k address lines to select one of m words in memory and n output lines, one for each
bit of the word.

➢ May have one or more enable inputs for expansion.

➢ The outputs are a function of only the present input (the address), so it is a combinational circuit
constructed of decoders and OR gates.
CONT’D…

➢ When used as a memory unit, it stores fixed programs that are not to be altered and for

tables of constants that will not change

➢ When used in the design of control units for digital computers, it stores coded information

that represents the sequence of internal control variables to enable the various operations

➢ A control unit that utilizes a ROM is called a micro programmed control unit.

➢ The required paths may be programmed in three different ways.

CONT’D…

➢ Mask programming is done by the semiconductor company based upon a truth table

provided by the manufacturer.

➢ Programmable read-only memory (PROM) is more economical.

➢ PROM units contain all fuses intact and are blown by users.

➢ Erasable PROM (EPROM) can be altered using a special ultraviolet light.

➢ Electrical Erasable PROM (EEPROM) can be erased with electrical signals.