FLIP FLOP EXCITATION TABLES
A characteristic table defined the logical property of the flip-flop and
completely characterizes its operation. Integrated – circuit flip-flops are
sometimes defined by a characteristic table tabulated somewhat
differently.
Table (1) defines the state of each FF as a function of its inputs and
previous state. Q (t) refers to the present state and Q (t+1) to the next
state after the occurrence of a clock pulse. The characteristic table for
the RS FF shows that the next state is equal to the present state when
inputs S and R are both 0. When the R input is equal to 1, the next clock
pulse clears the FF. When the S input is equal to 1, the next clock pulse
sets the flip-flop. The question mark for the next state when S and R are
both equal to 1 simultaneously designates an indeterminate next state.
The table for the JK FF is the same as that for the RS when J and K are
replaced by S and R, respectively, except for the indeterminate case.
When both J and K are equal to 1, the next state is equal to the
complement of the present state, i.e., Q (t+1) = Q’ (t). The next state of
the D FF is completely dependent on the input d and independent of the
present state. The next state of the T FF is same as the present state if
T=0 and complemented if T=1
Table (2) presents the excitation tables for the three FF’s. Each table
consists of two columns, Q (t) and Q (t+1), and a column for each input
to show how the required transition is achieved. There are four possible
transitions from present state to next state. The required input conditions
for each of the four transitions are derived from the information
available in the characteristic table. The symbol X in the tables
represents a don’t-care condition, i.e., it does not matter whether the
input is 1or 0.
RS FLIP-FLOP
The excitation table for the RS FF is shown in table 2(a). The first row
shows the FF in the 0-state at time t. It is desired to leave it in the 0-state
after the occurrence of the pulse. From the characteristic table, we find
that if S and R are both 0, the FF will not change state. Therefore, both S
and R inputs should be 0. However, it really doesn’t matter if R is made
a 1 when the pulse occurs, since it results in leaving the FF in the 0-state.
Thus, R can be 1 or 0 and the FF will remain in the 0-state at t+1.
Therefore, the entry under R is marked by the don’t-care condition X.
JK FLIP-FLOP
The excitation table for the JK FF is shown in table 2(b). When both
present state and the next state are 0, the J input must remain 0 and the K
input can be either 0 or 1. Similarly, when both present state and the
next state are 1, the K input must remain at 0 while the J input can be 0
or 1. If the FF is to have a transition from the 0-state to the 1-state, J
must be equal to 1 since the J inputs sets the FF. However, input K may
be either 0 or a 1. If K=0, the J=1 condition sets the FF as required; if
K=1 and J=1, the FF is complemented and goes from the 0-state to the
1-state as required. Therefore the K input is marked with a don’t-care
condition for the 0-to-1 transition. For a transition from the 1-state to the
0-state, we must have K=1, since J=0 has no effect, and J=1 together
with K=1 complements the FF with a resultant transition from 1 state to
0-state.
The excitation table for the JK FF illustrates the advantage of using this
type when designing sequential circuits. The fact that it has so many
don’t-care conditions indicates that the combinational circuits for the
input functions are likely to be simpler because don’t-care terms usually
simplify a function.
D FLIP-FLOP
The excitation table for the D FF is shown in table 2(c). From the
characteristic table, table 1(c), we note that the next state is always equal
to the input D and independent of the present state. Therefore, D must be
0 if Q(t+1) has to be 0, and 1 if Q(t+1) has to be 1, regardless of the
value of Q(t).