Unit 3: Fundamentals of Digital Logic Design
We will begin this unit with an overview of digital components, identifying the building blocks of digital logic. We will build on that foundation by writing truth tables and learning about more complicated sequential digital systems with memory. This unit serves as background information for the processor design techniques we learn in later units.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 13 hours.
3.1: Beginning Design: Logic Gates, Truth Table, and Logic Equations
Study these principles. This reading provides a list of important design principles, applicable to any type of design and, in particular to computer system design, software or hardware. Consider these principles as well as other design considerations as a guide to computer system design.
Read this article. Logic devices are physical implementations of Boolean logic and are built from components, which have gotten larger and more complex over time, for example: relays and transistors, gates, registers, multiplexors, adders, multipliers, ALUs (arithmetic logic units), data buses, memories, interfaces, and processors. These devices respond to control and data signals specified in machine instructions to perform the functions for which they were designed.
3.2: Combinational Logic
Read this chapter, which describes the design of several components using logic gates, including adders, encoders and decoders, multiplexers, and demultiplexers. This chapter also mentions ladder logic. If you are not familiar with ladder logic, you may also optionally read Chapter 6 as a reference.
3.3: Flip-Flops, Latches, and Registers
Read this chapter, which discusses how logic gates are connected to store bits, i.e., 0's and 1's. Combinational circuits, described in the previous section, do not have memory. Using logic gates, latches and flip flops are designed for storing bits. Groups of flip flops are used to build registers which hold strings of bits. For each storage device in Chapter 10, focus on the overview at the beginning of the section and the review of the device's characteristics at the end of its section. While you do not absolutely need to know the details of how latches and flip flops work, you might find the material of interest. We strongly recommend that you read the details of the design of each storage device, because it will give you a stronger background.
3.4: Sequential Logic Design
Read this chapter on sequential circuits. Combinatorial circuits, discussed in a previous unit, have outputs that depend on the inputs. Sequential circuits and finite state machines have outputs that depend on the inputs AND the current state, values stored in memory.
Read this chapter on Karnaugh mapping, a tabular way for simplifying Boolean logic. There are several ways for representing Boolean logic: algebraic expressions which use symbols and Boolean operations; Venn diagrams which use distinct and overlapping circles; and tables relating inputs to outputs (for combinational logic) or tables relating inputs and current state to outputs and next state (for sequential logic). When designing sequential logic, some of the components are memory devices. Cost and processing time are considerations in using memory devices, which can be expensive. To reduce the cost or processing time the logic can be simplified. This simplification can be done using algebraic rules to manipulate the symbols and operations, analysis of the areas inside the circles for Venn diagrams, or Karnaugh maps for input/output tables. Some of you may be familiar with Karnaugh mapping from previous courses or work experience.
3.5: Case Study: Design of a Finite State Machine (FSM) to Control a Vending Machine
Read this article for an example of a finite state machine design of a simple vending machine.
A sequential circuit is also called a sequential machine or a finite state machine (FSM) or a finite state automaton. This case study gives an example that illustrates the concepts of this unit for the design of a sequential circuit. A binary table represents the input/output behavior of the circuit. We use a sequential circuit, because the output also depends on the state. Recall from your readings, that state requires memory, i.e., flip flops. Thus, a binary table with entries that give the output and next state for given inputs and current state represents the design of the machine. A finite state machine diagram can also represent the design: circles represent states; arrows represent transitions next to states; and inputs and outputs label the arrows (sometimes written as input/ output). Finally, Boolean equations can also represent the design. Lastly, Karnaugh maps or Boolean logic rules can be used to simplify, i.e., minimize, the equations and, thus, the design.
Unit 3 Assessment
Please take this assessment to check your understanding of the materials presented in this unit.
Notes:
- There is no minimum required score to pass this assessment, and your score on this assessment will not factor into your overall course grade.
- This assessment is designed to prepare you for the Final Exam that will determine your course grade. Upon submission of your assessment you will be provided with the correct answers and/or other feedback meant to help in your understanding of the topics being assessed.
- You may attempt this assessment as many times as needed, whenever you would like.