Sequential Circuits

CpE 443/L
Advanced Logic Circuits
Objectives
• Sequential Circuits
• Storage Elements (Memory)
• Latches
• Flip-Flops
Combinational vs Sequential
inputs X Combinational outputs Z
Circuits

A combinational circuit:
• At any time, outputs depends only on inputs
• Changing inputs changes outputs
• No regard for previous inputs
• No memory (history)
• Time is ignored !
Combinational vs Sequential
inputs X Combinational outputs Z
Circuits
present state next state
Memory

A sequential circuit:
• A combinational circuit with feedback through memory
• The stored information at any time defines a state
• Outputs depends on inputs and previous inputs
• Previous inputs are stored as binary information into memory
• Next state depends on inputs and present state
Examples of sequential systems

Traffic light ATM Vending machine

What is common between these systems?

 Combinational Adder

• 4-bit adder (ripple-carry)

• Notice how carry-out propagates
• One adder is active at a time
• 4 full adders are needed
 Sequential Adder

 1-bit memory and 2 4-bit memory

 Only one full-adder!
 4 clocks to get the output
 The 1-bit memory defines the circuit state (0 or 1)
Types of Sequential Circuits
• Two types of sequential circuits:
• Synchronous: The behavior of the circuit
depends on the input signal at discrete
instances of time (also called clocked)
• Asynchronous: The behavior of the circuit
depends on the input signals at any instance
of time and the order of the inputs change
• A combinational circuit with feedback
Synchronous Sequential Circuits
inputs X Combinational outputs Z
Circuits
present state next state
Flip-Flops

clock

• Synchronous circuits employs a synchronizing signal called clock

(a periodic train of pulses; 0s and 1s)
• A clock determines when computational activities occur
• Other signals determines what changes will occur
Synchronous Sequential Circuits
inputs X Combinational outputs Z
Circuits
present state next state
Flip-Flops

clock

• The storage elements (memory) used in clocked sequential

circuits are called flip-flops
• Each flip-flop can store one bit of information 0,1
• A circuit may use many flip-flops; together they define the circuit state

• Flip-Flops (memory/state) update only with the clock

Storage Elements (Memory)
• A storage element can maintain a binary state (0,1)
indefinitely, until directed by an input signal to switch state
• Main difference between storage elements:
• Number of inputs they have
• How the inputs affect the binary state
• Two main types:
• Latches (level-sensitive)
• Flip-Flops (edge-sensitive)
• Latches are useful in asynchronous sequential circuits
• Flip-Flips are built with latches
Latches
• A latch is binary storage element
• Can store a 0 or 1
• The most basic memory
• Easy to build
• Built with gates (NORs, NANDs, NOT)
SR Latch

What does this circuit do?

SR Latch

• Two states: Set (Q = 1) and Reset (Q = 0)

• When S=R=0, Q remains the same, S=R=1 is not allowed!
• Normally, S=R=0 unless the state need to be changed (memory?)
• State of the circuit depends not only on the current inputs, but also
on the recent history of the inputs
S’ R’ Latch

How about this circuit?

S’ R’ Latch

• Similar to SR latch (complemented)

• Two states: Set (Q = 0) and Reset (Q = 1)
• When S=R=1, Q remains the same
• S=R=0 is not allowed!
SR Latch with Clock

• An SR Latch can be modified to control when it changes

• An additional input signal Clock (C)
• When C=0, the S and R inputs have no effect on the latch
• When C=1, the inputs affect the state of the latch and
possibly the output
SR Latch with Clock (cont.)

How can we eliminate the undefined state?

D Latch
S • Ensure S and R are
never equal to 1 at the
same time
• Add inverter
• Only one input (D)
R • D connects to S
• D’ connects to R
• D stands for data
• Output follows the
input when C = 1
• Transparent
• When C = 0, Q
remains the same
Graphic Symbols for Latches

clk

• A latch is designated by a rectangular block with inputs on the left and

outputs on the right
• One output designates the normal output, the other (with the bubble)
designates the complement
• For S’R’ (SR built with NANDs), bubbles added to the input
 Problem with Latches
inputs X Combinational outputs Z
Circuits

Latches?

clock
Example
• What happens if Clock=1? What will be the
value of Q when Clock goes to 0? Q
D Q
• Problem: A latch is transparent; state keep
changing as long as the clock remains active
• Due to this uncertainty, latches can not be Clock C Q
reliably used as storage elements.
Flip Flops
• A flip-flop is a one bit memory similar to latches
• Solves the issue of latch transparency
• Latches are level sensitive memory element
• Active when the clock = 1 (whole duration)
• Flip-Flops are edge-triggered or edge-sensitive
memory element
• Active only at transitions; i.e. either from 0  1 or 1  0
level

positive (rising) edge negative (falling) edge

Flip Flops

clk clk

• A flip flop can be built using two latches in a master-

slave configuration
• A master latch receives external inputs
• A slave latch receives inputs from the master latch
• Depending on the clock signal, only one latch is active at
any given time
• If clk=1, the master latch is enabled and the inputs are latched
• if clk=0, the master is disabled and the slave is activated to
generate the outputs
 Flip Flops

clk clk

Important Timing Considerations:

• Delay of logic gates inside the flip-flop
• Setup Time (Ts): The minimum time
during which D input must be maintained
before the clock transition occurs.
• Hold Time (Th): The minimum time
during which D input must not be
changed after the clock transition occurs.
SR Flip Flop
• Built using two latches
(Master and Slave)
• C = 1, master is active
• C = 0, slave is active
• Q is sampled at the
falling edge
• Data is entered on the
rising edge of the clock
pulse, but the output
does not reflect the
change until the falling
edge of the clock pulse.
Graphic Symbols for Flip Flops

• A Flip Flop is designated by a rectangular block with inputs on the

left and outputs on the right (similar to latches)
• The clock is designated with an arrowhead
• A bubble designates a negative-edge triggered flip flops
Other Flip Flops
JK Flip Flop

• How does it work?

• Hint: D = ?
Other Flip Flops
JK Flip Flop

• D = J Q’ + K’ Q
• J sets the flip flop (1)
• K reset the flip flop (0)
• When J = K = 1, the output is complemented
Other Flip Flops
JK Flip Flop

• D = J Q’ + K’ Q
• J sets the flip flop (1) JK Flip Flop built with SR latches
• K reset the flip flop (0)
• When J = K = 1, the output is complemented
Other Flip Flops (cont.)
T Flip Flop

• T (toggle) flip flop is a complementing flip flop

• Built with a JK or D flip flop (as shown above)
• T = 0, no change,
• T = 1, complement (toggle)
• For D-FF implementation, D = T  Q
 Characteristic Tables
• A characteristic table
defines the operation of a
flip flop in a tabular form
• Next state is defined in
terms of the current state
and the inputs
• Q(t) refers to current state
(before the clock arrives)
• Q(t+1) refers to next state
(after the clock arrives)
• Similar to the truth table in
combinational circuits
 Characteristic Equations
• A characteristic
equation defines the
operation of a flip flop in
an algebraic form
• For D-FF
• Q(t+1) = D
• For JK-FF
• Q(t+1) = J Q’ + K’ Q
• For T-FF
• Q(t+1) = T  Q
Direct Inputs

• Some flip-flops have asynchronous inputs to set/reset their states

independently of the clock.
• Preset or direct set, sets the flip-flop to 1
• Clear or direct reset, set the flip-flop to 0
• When power is turned on, a flip-flop state is unknown; Direct inputs are
useful to put in a known state
• Figure shows a positive-edge D-FF with active-low asynchronous
reset.
Flip Flops Sheet (Mano’s Textbook)
Summary
• In a sequential circuit, outputs depends on inputs and
previous inputs
• Previous inputs are stored as binary information into memory
• The stored information at any time defines a state
• Similarly, next state depends on inputs and present state
• Two types of sequential circuits: Synchronous and
Asynchronous
• Two types of Memory elements: Latches and Flip-Flops.
• Flip-flops are built with latches
• A flip-flop is described using characteristic table/equation
• Flips-flops can have direct asynchronous inputs