Introduction to Digital
Systems:
By Selomon B.
Quantities
Continuous quantities: quantities which has
infinity values over specific interval of time.
Discrete quantities: finite sequence of
numbers, with finite possible values
A signal is a physical quantity (sound, light,
voltage, current) that carries information
Analog signal == Continuous
Digital signal == discrete (step by step)
Analog vs discrete signal
Discrete signal
Analog signal
Digital vs Analog Systems
A digital system: Devices designed to manipulate
logical information that are represented in digital form.
Examples: digital computers, calculators, digital
audio/video equipment, telephone system…
Analog system: Devices designed to manipulate
information that are represented in analog form.
Examples: digital computers, calculators, digital
audio/video equipment, telephone system…
Advantages of Digital Techniques
Digital systems are generally easier to design.
Information storage is easy.
Accuracy and precision are greater.
Operation can be programmed.
Digital circuits are less effected by noise.
More digital circuitry can be fabricated on IC
chips.
Limitations of Digital Techniques
The real world in mainly analog.
To deal with analog inputs, three steps must be
followed:
– Convert the real-world analog inputs to digital form
(analog-to-digital converter, ADC)
– Process (operate on) the digital information
– Convert the digital output back to real-world analog
form (digital-to-analog converter,DAC)
Temperature Control System
Digital vs. Analog
Added complexity and expense due to ADC, DAC
Extra time required to perform conversions
In most applications, digital techniques are favored
because of the advantages discussed before.
One notable exception: signal amplification is most
easily achieved using analog circuitry.
Hybrid systems: combination of digital and analog
parts.
The future is digital.
Representing digital Quantities
• In digital systems the information that is being
processed is usually presented in binary form. Binary
quantities can be represented by any device that has
only two operating states or possible conditions.
• For example, a switch has only open or closed. We
arbitrarily (as we define them) let an open switch
represent binary 0 and a closed switch represent
binary 1.
• Thus we can represent any binary number by using
series of switches.
Typical Voltage Assignment
Binary 1: Any voltage between 2V to 5V
Binary 0: Any voltage between 0V to 0.8V
Not used: Voltage between 0.8V to 2V, this may cause
error in a digital circuit.
Digital Pulse
Base line
Amplitude
Rise time (tr)
Pulse width (tw)
Fall time (tf)
Digital Waveforms
tw = pulse width
T = period of the waveform
f = frequency of the waveform
Digital Waveforms characteristics
Periodic Square Wave
Non-periodic Square Wave
Clock and Timing Diagram
Clock –a basic timing waveform that is used to
synchronize all waveforms in digital systems
Must be periodic!!!
Used to synchronize all waveforms in digital systems
Each interval between pulses in clock equals the time
for one bit
It, itself does not carry any information
Timing diagram –a graph of digital waveforms showing
the actual time relationship of two or more waveforms,
and how each waveform changes in relation to the
others
Timing Diagram:
Digital Circuits
Digital circuits are designed to produce output voltages
that fall within the prescribed 0 and 1 voltage ranges.
A digital circuit responds to an input’s binary level (0 or
1) and not to its actual voltage.
The manner in which a digital circuit responds to an
input is referred to as the circuit’s logic.
Each type of digital circuit obeys a certain set of logic
rules.
For this reason, digital circuits are also called logic
circuits.
Digital Integrated Circuits
Almost all of the digital circuits used in modern
digital systems are integrated circuits (ICs).
Several fabrication technologies are used:
– TTL
– CMOS
– NMOS
– ECL
Parallel and Serial Transmission
Circuit Circuit
Parallel: A B
Serial: A B
• Tradeoff: Speed versus circuit simplicity
