Sequential circuit design

Now lets reverse the process: In sequential circuit design, we turn some description into a working circuit. We first make a state table or diagram to express the computation. Then we can turn that table or diagram into a sequential circuit.

Sequential circuit design

Sequence recognizers

A sequence recognizer is a special kind of sequential circuit that looks for a special bit pattern in some input. The recognizer circuit has only one input, X. One bit of input is supplied on every clock cycle. For example, it would take 20 cycles to scan a 20-bit input. This is an easy way to permit arbitrarily long input sequences. There is one output, Z, which is 1 when the desired pattern is found. Our example will detect the bit pattern 1001: Inputs: 1 1 1 0 01 1 0 1 00 1 00 1 1 0 Outputs: 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

Here, one input and one output bit appear every clock cycle. This requires a sequential circuit because the circuit has to remember the inputs from previous clock cycles, in order to determine whether or not a match was found.

Sequential circuit design

A basic state diagram

What state do we need for the sequence recognizer? We have to remember inputs from previous clock cycles. For example, if the previous three inputs were 100 and the current input is 1, then the output should be 1. In general, we will have to remember occurrences of parts of the desired patternin this case, 1, 10, and 100. Well start with a basic state diagram (edges are labeled input/output): A 1/0 B 0/0 C 0/0 D

State A B C D

Meaning None of the desired pattern (1001) has been input yet. Weve already seen the first bit (1) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first two bits (10) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first three bits (100) of the desired pattern.
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Step 1: Making a state table

The first thing you have to figure out is precisely how the use of state will help you solve the given problem. Make a state table based on the problem statement. The table should show the present states, inputs, next states and outputs. Sometimes it is easier to first find a state diagram and then convert that to a table. This is usually the most difficult step. Once you have the state table, the rest of the design procedure is the same for all sequential circuits. Sequence recognizers are especially hard! Theyre the hardest example well see in this class, so if you understand this youre in good shape.

Sequential circuit design

A basic state diagram

What state do we need for the sequence recognizer? We have to remember inputs from previous clock cycles. For example, if the previous three inputs were 100 and the current input is 1, then the output should be 1. In general, we will have to remember occurrences of parts of the desired patternin this case, 1, 10, and 100. Well start with a basic state diagram: A 1/0 B 0/0 C 0/0 D

State A B C D

Meaning None of the desired pattern (1001) has been input yet. Weve already seen the first bit (1) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first two bits (10) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first three bits (100) of the desired pattern.
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Overlapping occurrences of the pattern

What happens if were in state D (the last three inputs were 100), and the current input is 1? The output should be a 1, because weve found the desired pattern. But this last 1 could also be the start of another occurrence of the pattern! For example, 1001001 contains two occurrences of 1001. To detect overlapping occurrences of the pattern, the next state should be B. A 1/0 B 0/0 C 1/1
State A B C D Meaning None of the desired pattern (1001) has been input yet. Weve already seen the first bit (1) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first two bits (10) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first three bits (100) of the desired pattern.
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0/0

Filling in the other arrows

Remember that we need two outgoing arrows for each node, to account for the possibilities of X=0 and X=1. The remaining arrows we need are shown in blue. They also allow for the correct detection of overlapping occurrences of 1001. 0/0 1/0 A 0/0
State A B C D

1/0

0/0 1/0

C 1/1
Meaning

0/0

None of the desired pattern (1001) has been input yet. Weve already seen the first bit (1) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first two bits (10) of the desired pattern. Weve already seen the first three bits (100) of the desired pattern.
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Finally, making the state table

1/0 A 0/0 1/0 B 0/0

0/0 1/0

C 1/1
Present State A A B B C C D D

0/0

Remember how the state diagram arrows correspond to rows of the state table:
present state input/output next state

Input 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Next State A B C B D B A B

Output 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Sequential circuit design procedure

Step 1: Make a state table based on the problem statement. The table should show the present states, inputs, next states and outputs. (It may be easier to find a state diagram first, and then convert that to a table.) Assign binary codes to the states in the state table, if you havent already. If you have n states, your binary codes will have at least log2 n digits, and your circuit will have at least log2 n flipflops. For each flip-flop and each row of your state table, find the flipflop input values that are needed to generate the next state from the present state. You can use flip-flop excitation tables here. Find simplified equations for the flip-flop inputs and the outputs. Build the circuit!

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4: Step 5:

Sequential circuit design

Step 2: Assigning binary codes to states

We have four states ABCD, so we need at least two flip-flops Q1Q0. The easiest thing to do is represent state A with Q1Q0 = 00, B with 01, C with 10, and D with 11. The state assignment can have a big impact on circuit complexity, but we wont worry about that too much in this class.
Present State Q1 Q 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1

Present State A A B B C C D D

Input 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Next State A B C B D B A B

Output 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Step 3: Finding flip-flop input values

Next we have to figure out how to actually make the flip-flops change from their present state into the desired next state. This depends on what kind of flip-flops you use! Well use two JKs. For each flip-flip Qi, look at its present and next states, and determine what the inputs Ji and Ki should be in order to make that state change.
Present State Q1 Q0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Flip flop inputs J1 K1 J0 K0 Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Finding JK flip-flop input values

For JK flip-flops, this is a little tricky. Recall the characteristic table:

J 0 0 1 1 K 0 1 0 1 Q(t+1) Q(t) 0 1 Q(t) Operation No change Reset Set Complement

If the present state of a JK flip-flop is 0 and we want the next state to be 1, then we have two choices for the JK inputs: We can use JK=10, to explicitly set the flip-flops next state to 1. We can also use JK=11, to complement the current state 0. So to change from 0 to 1, we must set J=1, but K could be either 0 or 1. Similarly, the other possible state transitions can all be done in two different ways as well.
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JK excitation table

An excitation table shows what flip-flop inputs are required in order to make a desired state change.
Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 J 0 1 x x K x x 1 0 Operation No change/reset Set/complement Reset/complement No change/set

This is the same information Q(t+1) given in the characteristic table, J K thats Operation but presented backwards. Q(t) 0 0 No change
0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 Q(t) Reset Set Complement

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Excitation tables for all flip-flops

Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 D 0 1 0 1 J 0 1 x x T 0 1 1 0 K x x 1 0 Operation Reset Set Reset Set Operation No change/reset Set/complement Reset/complement No change/set

Operation No change Complement Complement No change

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Sequential circuit design

Back to the example

We can now use the JK excitation table on the right to find the correct values for each flip-flops inputs, based on its present and next states.
Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 J 0 1 x x K x x 1 0

Present State Q1 Q 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1

Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1

Flip flop inputs J1 K1 J0 K0

Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Back to the example

We can now use the JK excitation table on the right to find the correct values for each flip-flops inputs, based on its present and next states.
Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 J 0 1 x x K x x 1 0

Present State Q1 Q0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1

Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1

Flip flop inputs J1 K1 J0 K0 0 0 1 0 x x x x x x x x 0 1 1 1 0 1 x x 1 1 x x x x 1 0 x x 1 0

Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Step 4: Find equations for the FF inputs and output

Now you can make K-maps and find equations for each of the four flipflop inputs, as well as for the output Z. These equations are in terms of the present state and the inputs. The advantage of using JK flip-flops is that there are many dont care conditions, which can result in simpler MSP equations.
Present State Q1 Q0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1

Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Flip flop inputs J1 K1 J0 K0 0 0 1 0 x x x x x x x x 0 1 1 1 0 1 x x 1 1 x x x x 1 0 x x 1 0

Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

J1 = X Q0 K1 = X + Q 0 J 0 = X + Q1 K0 = X Z = Q1 Q 0 X
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Sequential circuit design

Step 5: Build the circuit

Lastly, we use these simplified equations to build the completed circuit.

J1 = X Q0 K1 = X + Q 0 J0 = X + Q1 K0 = X Z = Q1Q0X

Sequential circuit design

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Step 5: Build the circuit

Lastly, we use these simplified equations to build the completed circuit.

J1 = X Q0 K1 = X + Q 0 J0 = X + Q1 K0 = X Z = Q1Q0X

Sequential circuit design

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Timing diagram

Here is one example timing diagram for our sequence detector. The flip-flops Q1Q0 start in the initial state, 00.

On the first three positive clock edges, X is 1, 0, and 0. These inputs cause Q1Q0 to change, so after the third edge Q1Q0 = 11.

Then when X=1, Z becomes 1 also, meaning that 1001 was found. The output Z does not have to change at positive clock edges. Instead, it may change whenever X changes, since Z = Q1Q0X. 1 CLK Q1 Q0 X Z
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Building the same circuit with D flip-flops

What if you want to build the circuit using D flip-flops instead? We already have the state table and state assignments, so we can just start from Step 3, finding the flip-flop input values. D flip-flops have only one input, so our table only needs two columns for D1 and D0.
Present State Q1 Q0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Flip-flop inputs D1 D0

Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

D flip-flop input values (Step 3)

The D excitation table is pretty boring; set the D input to whatever the next state should be. You dont even need to show separate columns for D1 and D0; you can just use the Next State columns.
Present State Q1 Q0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Q(t) 0 0 1 1 Flip flop inputs D1 D0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Q(t+1) 0 1 0 1 D 0 1 0 1 Operation Reset Set Reset Set

Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Finding equations (Step 4)

You can do K-maps again, to find: D1 = Q1 Q0 X + Q1 Q0 X D0 = X + Q1 Q0 Z = Q1 Q 0 X

Present State Q1 Q 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Input X 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 Next State Q1 Q0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Flip flop inputs D1 D0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 Output Z 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
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Sequential circuit design

Building the circuit (Step 5)

D1 = Q1 Q0 X + Q1 Q0 X D0 = X + Q1 Q0
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Building the circuit (Step 5)

Sequential circuit design

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Flip-flop comparison
JK flip-flops are good because there are many dont care values in the flip-flop inputs, which can lead to a simpler circuit.

D flip-flops have the advantage that you dont have to set up flip-flop inputs at all, since Q(t+1) = D. However, the D input equations are usually more complex than JK input equations In practice, D flip-flops are used more often. There is only one input for each flip-flop, not two. There are no excitation tables to worry about. D flip-flops can be implemented with slightly less hardware than JK flip-flops.

Sequential circuit design

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An Aside On State Encoding

You do not have to use the most compact encoding of states possible Here is another possibility: suppose you have four states A, B, C, D Create one flip flop for each of A, B, C, D Feed the Set and Reset lines of these flip-flops based on current state and inputs This uses more flip-flops (4 instead of the minimum 2) but may result in a much simpler circuit overall The encoding and decoding of states is entirely artificial; it depends completely on the choice of state encodings. A little thinking about the circuit may lead you to a state encoding that simplifies the circuit a lot.

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Summary

The basic sequential circuit design procedure: Make a state table and, if desired, a state diagram. This step is usually the hardest. Assign binary codes to the states if you didnt already. Use the present states, next states, and flip-flop excitation tables to find the flip-flop input values. Write simplified equations for the flip-flop inputs and outputs and build the circuit. Next, well look at common examples of sequential circuits, including different types of counters.

Sequential circuit design

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