CHAPTER-6

SEQUENTIAL LOGIC CIRCUIT

(LATCHES, FLIP-FLOP AND COUNTER)
 INTRODUCTION
 The logic circuits whose outputs at any instant of time depend on the
present inputs as well as on the past outputs are called sequential
circuits.
 In sequential circuits, the output signals are fed back to the input side.
A block diagram of a sequential circuit is shown in Figure below.

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Block Diagram of Sequential Circuit
 cont ……
 Sequential circuits are broadly classified into two main
categories, known as synchronous or clocked and asynchronous
or unclocked sequential circuits, depending on the timing of their
signals.
 A synchronous sequential circuit is a system whose behavior can
be defined from the knowledge of its signals at discrete instants
of time.
 The behavior of an asynchronous sequential circuit depends
upon the order in which its input signals change and can be
affected at any instant of time.
 Storage Element (memory): Latches & Flip-Flops
 Storage elements that operate with signal levels (rather than
signal transitions) are referred to as Latches; those controlled by
a clock transition are flip-flops.
 Latches are said to be level sensitive devices; flip-flops are edge-
sensitive devices. 3
 LATCHES
 A latch is a type of temporary storage device that has two
stable states (bistable) a is normally placed in a category
separate from that of flip-flops.
• Latches are similar to flip-flops because they are bistable
devices that can reside in either of two states using a
feedback arrangement, in which the outputs are connected
back to the opposite inputs.
 The difference between latch and flip-flop is in the method
used for changing their state.
 S – set; R-reset
 Type of Latch :
A) S-R Latch
B) Gated S-R Latch
C) Gated D Latch
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A) S-R (SET-RESET) Latch
• A latch is a type of bistable logic device or multivibrator.
• An active-HIGH input S-R (SET- RESET) latch is formed with two cross-
coupled NOR gates, as shown in Figure (a);
• An active-LOW input S-R latch is formed with two cross-coupled NAND
gates, as shown in Figure (b).
• Notice that the output of each gate is connected to an input of the
opposite gate.
• This produces the regenerative feedback that is characteristic of all
latches and flip-flops.

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Logic Symbol : S-R and S-R Latch

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 Cont-----
Truth table for an active-High (NOR gate) input S-R latch.

The Q and not-Q outputs are supposed to be in opposite states.

 Q=1 and not-Q =0 is defined as set (by making S=1 and R=0)
 Q=0 and not-Q =1 is conversely defined as reset (by making S=0 and R=1)
 When S and R are both equal to 0, the multivibrator's outputs “not change" in their prior
states.
 If Q and not-Q happen to be forced to the same state both 1, that state is referred to as
invalid.
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 Cont…
Truth table for an active-LOW(NAND gate) input S-R latch.
 The arrangement, shown in Figure below, is similar to the NOR gate
latch except that the Q and Q’ output save reversed positions.

Summary of NAND Latch

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Example-1:- Assume that Q = 0 initially, and determine the Q waveform
for the NOR latch inputs of Figure below.

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Example-2:-
The waveforms of Figure below are applied to the inputs of the NAND
latch. Assume that initially Q = 0, and determine the Q waveform.

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 B) Gated S-R Latch
• A gated latch requires an enable input, EN .
• The S and R inputs control the state to which the latch will go when a
HIGH level is applied to the EN input.
• The latch will not change until EN is HIGH; but as long as it remains
HIGH, the output is controlled by the state of the S and R inputs.
• In this circuit, the invalid state occurs when both S and R are
simultaneously HIGH.

(a) Logic diagram (b) Logic symbol

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cont . . .

EN S R Output
0 0 0 No Change
0 0 1 No Change
0 1 0 No Change
0 1 1 No Change
1 0 0 No Change
1 0 1 Q=0; Reset state
1 1 0 Q=1; set state
1 1 1 Invalid

(c) Truth Table

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Example 1: Gated S-R Latch
Determine the Q output waveform if the inputs shown in Figure
below are applied to a gated S-R latch that is initially RESET.

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Example 2 : Gated S-R Latch.
Find waveform for Q.
S

EN

Q
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 C) Gated D Latch
• Another type of gated latch is called the D latch.
• It differs from the S-R latch because it has only one input in addition
to EN.
• This input is called the D (data) input.
• When the D input is HIGH and the EN input is HIGH, the latch will set.
• When the D input is LOW and EN is HIGH, the latch will reset. Stated
another way, the output Q follows the input D when EN is HIGH.

(a) Logic diagram (b) Logic symbol

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 (c) Truth Table
EN D Output
0 0 No Change
0 1 No Change
1 0 Q=0
1 1 Q=1

Example:-Determine the Q output waveform if the inputs shown in Figure below are
applied to a gated D latch, which is initially RESET.

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 FLIP - FLOP (FF)
• The main difference between latches and flip-flops is the
method used to change their states.
• Flip-flops are edge-triggered, that is that they depend on the
transition of a signal.
• This may either be a LOW-to-HIGH (rising edge) or a HIGH-
to-LOW (falling edge) transition.
• There are different types of flip-flops depending on how their
inputs and clock pulses cause transition between two states.
1. Edge – triggered S-R (set-reset) Flip-flop
2. Edge – triggered D flip-flop (direct FF)
3. Edge – triggered J-K flip flop
4. Edge – triggered T Flip flop (Toggle FF)
1. S-R Flip flop

S R CLK Output Comments = clock transition LOW

to HIGH
Q Q’ X = irrelevant (don’t care)
0 0 X Q0 Q’0 No Change Q0= output level prior to
clock transition
0 1 0 1 RESET
1 0 1 0 SET
1 1 ? ? Invalid
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Examples: Edge.. S-R Flip-Flops
a)

b)

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Characteristic Table of an S-R Flip-flop
• From the name itself it is very clear that the characteristic table of
a flip-flop actually gives us an idea about the character, i.e., the
working of the flip-flop. Now, from all our above discussions, we
know that the next state flip-flop output (Qn+1) depends on the
present inputs as well as the present output (Qn).

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 Cont----
EXCITATION TABLE OF A FLIP-FLOP
• The truth table of a flip-flop is also referred to as the characteristic table of a flip-
flop, since this table refers to the operational characteristics of the flip-flop.
• If the present state and next state values are known we can find out the exciting
values of the flip flop. If it drawn in a table form the called as excitation table.

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2. D Flip flop
 D FF is useful when a single data bit (1 or 0) is to be stored.
 The addition of an inverter to an S-R FF creates basic D FF
where a positive edge-triggered type is shown.
Q

--
Q

INPUTS OUTPUTS COMMENTS

D CLK Q Q’
1 1 0 SET (store a 1)
0 0 1 RESET (store 0)
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Characteristic
Table of D Flip-flop Excitation Table
D Qn Qn+1 Qn Qn+1 D
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 1 1
1 0 1 1 0 0
1 1 1 1 1 1

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3. J-k Flip flop
 The JK FF is versatile and is a widely used type of FF.
 The difference between J-K and S-R is a J-K has no
invalid state as SR.

J K CLK Output Comments

Q Q’
0 0 Q0 Q’0 No Change
0 1 0 1 RESET
1 0 1 0 SET
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1 1 Q’0 Q0 Toggle
X’cs table Excitation table
J K Qn Qn+1 Qn Qn+1 J K
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x
0 0 1 1 0 1 1 x
0 1 0 0 1 0 x 1
0 1 1 0 1 1 x 0
1 0 0 1
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 0
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4. T- Flip flop
Q Q

--- ----
Q Q

X’cs table Excitation table

T Qn Qn+1 Qn Qn+1 T
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 1 0 1 1
1 0 1 1 0 1
1 1 0 1 1 0
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 Procedure to design synchronous
sequential circuit
1. Construct the state diagram according to the given problem (if
require)
2. Construct the state table from the problem or from the state diagram.
3. Construct the excitation table with the present and next value obtain
from state table for the given flip flop.
4. Find out the expression for each and every flip flop from the
excitation table
5. Transfer the transition table to Karnaugh maps. There is a Karnaugh
map for each input of each flip-flop.
6. Group the Karnaugh map cells to generate and derive the logic
expression for each flip-flop input.
7. Implement the expressions with combinational logic and combine
with the flip-flops to create the sequential ckt 27
 COUNTER DESIGN
 Flip-flops can be connected together to perform counting operations. Such a
group of flip-flops is a counter.
 The number of flip-flops used and the way in which they are connected
determine the number of states (called the modulus) and also the specific
sequence of states that the counter goes through during each complete cycle.
 Counters are classified into two broad categories:
A) Asynchronous Counter and
B) Synchronous Counter
 In asynchronous counters, commonly called ripple counters, the first flip-
flop is clocked by the external clock pulse and then each successive flip-flop
is clocked by the output of the preceding flip-flop.
 In synchronous counters, the clock input is connected to all of the flip-flops
so that they are clocked simultaneously.
 Within each of these two categories, counters are classified primarily by the
type of sequence, the number of states, or the number of flip-flops in the
counter.
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a) ASYNCHRONOUS COUNTER (AC)
 The term asynchronous refers to events that do not have a fixed time
relationship with each other and, generally, do not occur at the same time.
 An asynchronous counter is one in which the flip-flops (FF) within the
counter do not change states at exactly the same time because they do not
have a common clock pulse.
I 2-BIT ASYNCHRONOUS BINARY COUNTER
 Figure below shows a 2-bit counter connected for asynchronous operation.
Notice that the clock (CLK) is applied to the clock input (C) of only the first
flop-flop, FF0, which is always the least significant bit (LSB).
 The second flip-flop, FFI, is triggered by the Qo output of FF0.
 FF0 changes state at the positive-going edge of each clock pulse, but FF1
changes only when triggered by a positive-going transition of the Qo output
of FF0.
 Therefore, the two flip-flops are never simultaneously triggered, so the
counter operation is asynchronous.
 Asynchronous counters are also known as ripple counters.
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•

Which one is an
Asynchronous C
and which one is
Synchronous C ?
What’s the
difference ?

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….. 2-Bit Asynchronous Counter

CLOCK Q1(MSB) Q0 (LSB)

PULSE (Bit 2) (Bit 1)

Initially 0 0
1 0 1
2 1 0
3 1 1
4 0 0

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.. 2-Bit Asynchronous Counter

1 0 1 0

0 1 1 0
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II 3-Bit Asynchronous Counter
CLOCK Q2(MSB) Q1 Q0(LSB)
PULSE (Bit 3) (Bit 2) (Bit 1)

Initially 0 0 0
1 0 0 1
2 0 1 0
3 0 1 1
4 1 0 0
5 1 0 1
6 1 1 0
7 1 1 1
8 0 0 0
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.. 3-Bit Asynchronous Counter

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….. 3-Bit Asynchronous Counter

Figure : Propagation delays in a 3-bit asynchronous (ripple-clocked) binary counter.

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III 4-Bit Asynchronous Counter

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 IV Asynchronous Decade Counter
• The modulus is the number of unique states through
which the counter will sequence
• Maximum possible number of states of counter is 2n ,
n is the number of flip-flops in the counter
– Example : Modulus 8 = 23 (Need 3 flip flops)

• Counter can be designed to have a number of states

in their sequence that is less than maximum, 2n. This
called truncated sequence 37
 .. Asynchronous Decade Counter
• One common modulus for counters is truncated
sequences is ten (MOD10).
• It called BCD decade counters.
• Requires 4 flip-flops. Max 24=16
• count zero,(0000) through nine (1001)
– 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,1,…..
• Done by : when the counter goes into ten (1010),
the decoding gate output goes LOW and
asynchronously resets all the flip-flops.
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.. ..Asynchronous Decade Counter

Figure An asynchronously
clocked decade counter with
asynchronous recycling.

Notice that there is a

glitch in Q1. The reason
of this glitch is that Q1
must first go HIGH before
the count 10 can be
decoded. Several
nanoseconds after the
decoding gate goes LOW.

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Figure Asynchronously clocked modulus-12 counter with asynchronous recycling. 40
 B) SYNCHRONOUS COUNTERS
• Before proceeding with a specific counter design technique, let's begin with
a general definition of a sequential circuit or state machine: A general
sequential circuit consists of a combinational logic section and a memory
section (flip-flops), as shown in Figure below.
• In a clocked sequential circuit, there is a clock input to the memory section
as indicated.

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 ….SYNCHRONOUS COUNTERS
Design of Synchronous Counter procedure:
• Step 1 : State Diagram
• Step 2 : Create Next State Table
• Step 3 : Flip-Flop Transition Table
• Step 4: Karnaugh Maps
• Step 5 and Step 6 : Logic Expressions and
Counter Implementation
 Example 1: Count with adjacent binary number
000, 001, 011, 010, 110, 111, 101, 100, 000….

Step 1 : State Diagram

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Step 2 : Create Next State Table
Present state Next state
Q2n Q1n Q0n Q2(n+1) Q1(n+1) Q0(n+1)

0 0 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 0 1 1
0 1 0 1 1 0
0 1 1 0 1 0
1 0 0 0 0 0
1 0 1 1 0 1
1 1 0 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 0 1 44
Step 3: Flip-Flop Transition Table (J-K FF)

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 State Table
Present state Next state Flip-Flop Inputs

Q2n Q1n Q0 Q2(n+1) Q1(n+1) Q0(n+1) J2

n K2 J1 K1 J0 K0

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 0 X 1 X
0 0 1 0 1 1 0 X 1 X X 0
0 1 0 1 1 0 1 X X 0 0 X
0 1 1 0 1 0 0 X X 0 X 1
1 0 0 0 0 0 X 1 0 X 0 X
1 0 1 1 0 1 X 0 0 X X 0
1 1 0 1 1 1 X 0 X 0 1 X
1 1 1 1 0 1 X 0 X 1 X 0
Step 4: Karnaugh Maps

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 Step 5 and Step 6 :
Logic Expressions and Counter Implementation

J2 = Q1Q0
J1 = Q2Q0
J0 = Q2Q1 + Q2Q1
K2 = Q1Q0
K1 = Q2Q0
K0 = Q2Q1 + Q2Q1

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 Step 5 and Step 6 :
Logic Expressions and Counter Implementation

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Example 2 : 001, 010, 101, 111, 001….
Step 1 : State Diagram

What is the Next

State Table (Step 2)
for this State Diagram
? Create it.

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Step 2& 3- State Table
------Example 2 :
Step 3 & 4 : Karnaugh Map

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Example 2 :
Step 5 & 6 : Logic Expressions and Counter Implementation

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 Modulo- n counter:
Modulo –n counter is a counter that count from 0 to
n-1.
Ex. Mod-4 counter: 0, 1, 2, 3,0,1..
Mod-10 counter: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, 1, …

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Examples :-
1. Design a counter with the following repeated binary
sequence: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Use JK flip flops.
2. Design mod-5 counter using D-Flip Flop.
3. Design a 3-bit up/down counter that works according
to mode bit , if the mode = 0, then it is counting down
and if mode =1 it counts upwards.
4. Design a sequence generator to generate 0, 1, 5, 6, 2,
if mode is 0 and 2, 7, 1, 3, 5 if mode is 1.
5. Design 4-Bit Synchronous Decade Counter to
produce a BCD counting sequence of the following
binary sequence. Use T- flip-flops.
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0,…

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End of chapter-6
Question???

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