CHAPTER THREE

Common digital components

 Integrated circuit
 Decoder
 Encoder
 Multiplexer
 Register
 Binary counter
 Memory units
 Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit (IC) is manufactured
using silicon material and mounted in a
ceramic or plastic container (known as Chip).
The basic components of an IC consist of
electronic circuits for the logic gates,
transistors, resistors, capacitors and etc.
The various gates are interconnected inside
an IC to form the required circuit. E.g.
Computer processor.
An Integrated Circuit can be categorized into
four:

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Small Scale Integration Devices(SSI)
These type of devices contain several
independent gates in a single package.
The inputs and outputs of these gates are
connected directly to the pins in the
package.
The number of logic gates are usually less
than 10 and are limited by the number of
pins available in the IC.

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Medium Scale Integration Devices(MSI)
These type of devices has approximately 10
to 200 gates in a single package.
The basic components include decoders,
adders, and registers.
Large Scale Intégration Devices (LSI )
LSI devices contain about 200 to a few
thousand gates in a single package.
The basic components of an LSI device
include digital systems, such as processors,
memory chips, and programmable modules.
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Very Large Scale Integration Device (VLSI )
This type of devices contains thousands of
gates within a single package.
The most common example of a VLSI
device is a complex microcomputer chip.
Here, the computer processor that is one
of the most common example of the
integrated circuits :

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Decoder and multiplexer
o Decoders
A Decoder can be described as a
combinational circuit that converts binary
information from the 'n' coded inputs to a
maximum of 2^n different outputs.
The most preferred or commonly used
decoders are n-to-m decoders, where m<=
2^n.
An n-to-m decoder has n inputs and m
outputs and is also referred to as an n * m
decoder. COA CH-3
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 The following logic diagram shows a 3-to-8 line
decoder with three input variables which are
decoded into eight output,
Each output representing one of the
combinations of the three binary input variables.

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 The three inverter gates provide the complement
of the inputs corresponding to which the eight
AND gates at the output generates one binary
combination for each input.
The most common application of this decoder is
binary-to-octal conversion. The truth table for a
3-to-8
A2 line
A1 decoder
A0 D0 can
D1 be
D2 represented
D3 D4 D5 as:
D6 D7

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

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 Encoders
An encoder can also be described as a
combinational circuit that performs the
inverse operation of a decoder.
An encoder has a maximum of 2^n (or less)
input lines and n output lines.
In an Encoder, the output lines generate the
binary code corresponding to the input
value.
The following diagram shows the block
diagram of a 4 * 2 encoder with four input
and two output lines.
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 Cont.

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 The truth table for a 4-to-2 line encoder
can be represented as:
A3 A2 A1 A0 D1 D0

0 0 0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 1

0 1 0 0 1 0

1 0 0 0 1 1

The most common application of an

encoder is the Octal-to-Binary encoder.
Octal to binary encoder takes eight input
lines and generates three output lines.
Also there is 8- to - 3 Encoder=>reading
assignment
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Multiplexers
A Multiplexer (MUX) can be described as a
combinational circuit that receives binary
information from one of the 2^n input data lines
and directs it to a single output line.
The selection of a particular input data line for the
output is decided on the basis of selection lines.
The multiplexer is often called as data selector
since it selects only one of many data inputs.
A 2^n-to-1 multiplexer has 2^n input data lines
and n input selection lines whose bit
combinations determine which input data are
selected for the output.

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 The following diagram shows the block diagram of a
4 * 1 Multiplexer.

Out of these four input data lines, a particular input

data line will be connected to the output based on the
combination of inputs present at these two selection
lines.
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 A truth table describing the circuit needs 64 rows
since six input variables can have 2^n binary
combinations.
This will result in an excessively long table.
Therefore, a more convenient way to describe the
operation of multiplexers is using a function
table.
S1 S0 y

0 0 I0

0 1 I1

1 0 I2

1 1 13

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De-Multiplexers
A De-multiplexer (De-Mux) can be described as a
combinational circuit that performs the reverse
operation of a Multiplexer.
A De-multiplexer has a single input, 'n' selection lines
and a maximum of 2^n outputs.
 The following diagram shows the block diagram of a
1 * 4 De-multiplexer.

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Cont.

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 Cont.
The function table for a 1 * 4 De - Multiplexer can be represented as:

S1 S0 y3 y2 y1 y0

0 0 0 0 0 I

0 1 0 0 I 0

1 0 0 I 0 0

1 1 I 0 0 0

From the above function table, we can write the Boolean

function for each output as: y3 = S1S0 I, y2 = S1S0' I, y1 = S1'
S0 I, y0 = S1'S0' I
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 Registers
A Register is a fast memory used to accept, store, and
transfer data and instructions that are being used
immediately by the CPU.
A Register can also be considered as a group of flip-
flops with each flip-flop capable of storing one bit of
information.
A register with n flip-flops is capable of storing
binary information of n-bits.

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 The two major uses of Register in digital systems are:
 The flip flop hold & store the binary information for
processing.
 The Gate control when and how new information is
transferred into the
Two types of registers are commonly used:
1) Parallel registers
2) Shift registers
Parallel Registers:
 A parallel register consists of a set of 1-bit memories that can
be read or written simultaneously. It is used to store data.
 The 8 bit register of figure below, illustrates the operation of a
parallel register using D flip flops.
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Cont.

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Shift – Registers
Shift - Registers are capable of shifting their binary
information in one or both directions.
The logical configuration of a Shift - Register consists of
a series of flip-flops, with the output of one flip-flop
connected to the input of the next flip-flop.
To control the flow of shifts, i.e. the flow of binary
information from one register to the next, a common
clock is connected to all of the registers connected in
series.
This clock generates a clock pulse which initiates the
shift from one stage to the next.
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 Cont.
The following diagram shows the block diagram of a
Shift - Register and its configuration.

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 The basic configuration of a Shift - Register contains the
following points:
A common clock is connected to each register in series to
synchronize all operations.
A serial input line is associated with the left-most register,
and a serial output line is associated with the right-most
register.
A control state is connected which leaves the information
in the register unchanged even though clock pulses are
applied continuously.

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Binary counter
It is a type of sequential logic circuit which is able to
count in binary numbers.
It can counter from 0 to 2n - 1, where n is the total
number of bits in the counter.
It is a type of digital circuit which counts the number
of clock pulses that occur over a time period.
The binary counters are built up of flip flops, where a
flip flop is a most elementary memory element that
can store 1-bit of information.

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 In a binary counter, each flip flop represents one bit
of the binary number.
The counter increases its count by one whenever a
clock pulse occurs.
For example, a 3-bit binary counter can count from
000 (0) to 111 (7) before wrapping around to 000
again.
There are many types of binary counters present.
Some common types of binary counters are:
 Asynchronous Counter
 Synchronous Counter

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Asynchronous Counter
It is a type of binary counter in which the flip flops do
not receive the same clock pulse at the same time.
It is the simplest type of binary counter.
In it, each flip flop is triggered by the output of the
previous flip flop.
Therefore, they are relatively slow.

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Synchronous Counter
It is a type of binary counter in which all the flip flops
receive the same clock pulse at the same time.
Since, all the flip flops of the synchronous counter are
triggered by the same clock pulse, as result their
outputs change simultaneously.
Therefore, it is much faster type of counter than
asynchronous counter.
Here is the 4-bit binary counter demonstrated in the
diagram below.

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 Memory Unit
It is a collection of storage cells together with associated circuits
needed to transfer information in and out of storage.
It’s device or medium that can accept data, hold them and
deliver them, on demand at a later time.
It stores binary information in groups of bits called words.
There are two type of memory unit:
1. Primary memory
2. Secondary memory
Primary memory
Primary memory is internal memory.
In primary memory size is small and fast memory.
Example of primary memory is RAM and ROM

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RAM (Random Access Memory)
It is known as the main memory or internal memory
of the computer.
Everything in RAM is lost when you switch off your
computer, so it is Volatile memory.
Its temporary workspace in your computer.
It stores data and programs that your computer is
actively using.
When you open a file or run the software, it gets
loaded into RAM

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Cont.

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ROM (Read Only Memory)
It is a memory that stores essential records in your
computer needs to start up and run essential functions.
It is permanently programmed into the computer's
circuitry.
Therefore, it is non-volatile memory.
Here is ROM looks like:

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Secondary memory
External memory are called secondary memory.
Secondary memory is permanent memory lager size
and low cost.
It is a non volatile memory.
Examples of secondary storage devices are:
 External Hard Disk
 Magnetic Tapes
 CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory)
 DVD (Digital Video Disk)
 Flash Disk

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Cache Memory
It is another types of memory that is a volatile memory used to
store data or often accessed instructions.
Cache memory accesses data more quickly than RAM, so it
can enhance system performance.
 Data can be accessed more quickly in cache memory to the
CPU.
Registers
They are small, quick memory units found on the CPU.
They can temporarily store data during processing.
Registers are the quickest type of memory currently accessible,
their production costs are also the highest

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Measurements of memory units
1. Bit:
 it is the smallest memory unit to measure data stored in main memory
and storage devices.
It can convey only two possible states 0 or 1.
2. Byte:
 it is the fundamental unit to measure data.
 It contains 8 bits or is equal to 8 bits.

3. 1KB (Kilobyte) = 210 or 1024 byte

4. 1MB (Megabyte) = 210 or 1024 kilobytes
5. 1GB(Gigabyte) = 210 or 1024 megabyte.
6. 1TB (Terabyte) = 210 or 1024 gigabytes
7. And etc.
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