1. Computer Architecture CS 215
Latches & Flip-flops
Computer Architecture CS 215

2. Sequential Circuits Storage elements Combinatorial Logic Inputs
Combinational
Logic
Storage Elements
Inputs
Outputs
State
Next
Storage elements
Latches or Flip-Flops
Combinatorial Logic

3. Sequential Circuits Inputs Outputs Combinational Logic
Storage Elements
Inputs
Outputs
State
Next
Combinatorial Logic
Next state function Next State = f(Inputs, State)
Output function (Mealy) Outputs = g(Inputs, State)
Output function (Moore) Outputs = h(State)
Output function type depends on specification and affects the design significantly

4. Sequential Circuits Synchronous Asynchronous
Behavior defined from knowledge of its signals at discrete instances of time
Storage elements observe inputs and can change state only in relation to a timing signal (clock pulses from a clock)
Asynchronous
Behavior defined from knowledge of inputs an any instant of time and the order in continuous time in which inputs change
If clock just regarded as another input, all circuits are asynchronous!
Nevertheless, the synchronous abstraction makes complex designs tractable!

5. Discrete Event Simulation
Rules:
Gates modeled by an ideal (instantaneous) function and a fixed gate delay
Any change in input values is evaluated to see if it causes a change in output value
Changes in output values are scheduled for the fixed gate delay after the input change
At the time for a scheduled output change, the output value is changed along with any inputs it drives

6. Simulated NAND Gate  t (ns) A B F(I) F Comment – 1
Example: A 2-Input NAND gate with a 0.5 ns. delay
Assume A and B have been 1 for a long time
At time t=0, A changes back to 1. to a 0 at t= 0.8 ns, F A B
DELAY 0.5 ns.
F(Instantaneous)
t (ns) A B
F(I) F
Comment –  1
A=B=1 for a long time Þ Ü
F(I) changes to 1
0.5
F changes to 1 after a 0.5 ns delay
0.8
F(Instantaneous) changes to 0
0.13
F changes to 0 after a 0.5 ns delay

7. Basic (NAND) S–R Latch
S (set)
“Cross-Coupling” two NAND gates gives the S-R Latch
S = 0, R = 0 is forbidden as input pattern Q Q
R (reset)
Time R S Q
Comment 1 ?
Stored state unknown
“Set” Q to 1
Now Q “remembers” 1
“Reset” Q to 0 1 1 1
Now Q “remembers” 0 1 1
Both go high 1 1 ? ?
Unstable!

8. Basic (NOR) S–R Latch
S (set)
R (reset) Q
Cross-coupling two NOR gates gives the S – R Latch R S Q
Comment ?
Stored state unknown 1
“Set” Q to 1
Now Q “remembers” 1
“Reset” Q to 0
Now Q “remembers” 0
Both go low
Unstable!
Time

9. Clocked S-R Latch
Adding two NAND gates to the basic S-R NAND latch gives the clocked S–R latch:
Has a time sequence behavior similar to the basic S-R latch except that the S and R inputs are only observed when the line C is high.
C means “control” or “clock”. S R Q C

10. Clocked S-R Latch The Clocked S-R Latch can be described by a table
The table describes what happens after the clock [at time (t+1)] based on:
current inputs (S,R) and
current state Q(t). S R Q C

11. D Latch Adding an inverter to the S-R Latch, gives the D Latch:Q C
Adding an inverter to the S-R Latch, gives the D Latch:
Note that there are no “indeterminate” states! Q D
Q(t+1)
Comment
No change 1
Set Q
Clear Q
No Change C D Q

12. Flip-Flops Master-slave flip-flop Edge-triggered flip-flop
Standard symbols for storage elements

13. S-R Master-Slave Flip-FlopC S R Q
Two clocked S-R latches in series with the clock on the second latch inverted
The input is observed by the first latch with C = 1
The output is changed by the second latch with C = 0
The path from input to output is broken by the difference in clocking values (C = 1 and C = 0).
The behavior demonstrated by the example with D driven by Y given previously is prevented since the clock must change from 1 to 0 before a change in Y based on D can occur.

14. Edge-Triggered D Flip-FlopC S R Q D
The edge-triggered D flip-flop is the same as the master- slave D flip-flop
It can be formed by:
Replacing the first clocked S-R latch with a clocked D latch or
Adding a D input and inverter to a master-slave S-R flip-flop
The delay of the S-R master-slave flip-flop can be avoided since the 1s-catching behavior is not present with D replacing S and R inputs
The change of the D flip-flop output is associated with the negative edge at the end of the pulse
It is called a negative-edge triggered flip-flop

15. Positive-Edge Triggered D Flip-Flop
Formed by adding inverter to clock input
Q changes to the value on D applied at the positive clock edge within timing constraints to be specified
Our choice as the standard flip-flop for most sequential circuits C S R Q D

16. Standard Symbols for Storage Elements
Master-Slave: Postponed output indicators
Edge-Triggered: Dynamic indicator
(a) Latches S R SR
D with 0 Control D C
D with 1 Control
(b) Master-Slave Flip-Flops
Triggered D
Triggered SR
(c) Edge-Triggered Flip-Flops

17. State Diagrams
The sequential circuit function can be represented in graphical form as a state diagram with the following components:
A circle with the state name in it for each state
A directed arc from the Present State to the Next State for each state transition
A label on each directed arc with the Input values which causes the state transition, and
A label:
On each circle with the output value produced, or
On each directed arc with the output value produced.

18. State Diagrams Label form: On circle with output included:
state/output
Moore type output depends only on state
On directed arc with the output included:
input/output
Mealy type output depends on state and input

19. State Diagram: SR Latch

20. Other Flip-Flop Types J-K and T flip-flops
Behavior
Implementation
Basic descriptors for understanding and using different flip-flop types
Characteristic tables
Characteristic equations
Excitation tables
For actual use, see Reading Supplement - Design and Analysis Using J-K and T Flip-Flops

21. J-K Flip-flop Behavior
Same as S-R flip-flop with J analogous to S and K analogous to R
Except that J = K = 1 is allowed, and
For J = K = 1, the flip-flop changes to the opposite state
As a master-slave, has same “1s catching” behavior as S-R flip-flop
If the master changes to the wrong state, that state will be passed to the slave
E.g., if master falsely set by J = 1, K = 1 cannot reset it during the current clock cycle

22. J-K Flip-flop Build this! J C K JK=10 or 11 JK=00 D J Q = 0 Q = 1 K C
Implementation
To avoid 1s catching behavior, one solution used is to use an edge-triggered D as the core of the flip-flop J C K
Build this! D C K J
Q = 0
Q = 1
JK=00
JK=10 or 11
JK=01 or 11

23. T Flip-flop Behavior Same as a J-K flip-flop with J = K = T
Has a single input T
For T = 0, no change to state
For T = 1, changes to opposite state
Same as a J-K flip-flop with J = K = T
As a master-slave, has same “1s catching” behavior as J-K flip-flop
Cannot be initialized to a known state using the T input
Reset (asynchronous or synchronous) essential

24. T Flip-flop Build this! T C T = 1 T=0 D T Q = 0 Q = 1 C Implementation
To avoid 1s catching behavior, one solution used is to use an edge-triggered D as the core of the flip-flop T C
Build this!
Q = 0
Q = 1
T=0
T = 1 C D T

25. Basic Flip-Flop Descriptors
Used in analysis
Characteristic table - defines the next state of the flip-flop in terms of flip-flop inputs and current state
Characteristic equation - defines the next state of the flip-flop as a Boolean function of the flip-flop inputs and the current state
Used in design
Excitation table - defines the flip-flop input variable values as function of the current state and next state

26. D Flip-Flop Descriptors
Characteristic Table
Characteristic Equation Q(t+1) = D
Excitation Table D 1
Operation
Reset
Set
Q(t 1) +
Q(t
+1) 1 D
Operation
Reset
Set

27. T Flip-Flop Descriptors
Characteristic Table
Characteristic Equation Q(t+1) = T Å Q
Excitation Table
No change
Complement
Operation 1 T
Q(t 1) Q ( t ) +
Q(t + 1) Q ( t ) 1 T
No change
Complement
Operation

28. S-R Flip-Flop Descriptors
Characteristic Table
Characteristic Equation Q(t+1) = S + R Q, S.R = 0
Excitation Table 1
Operation S R
No change
Reset
Set
Undefined ?
Q(t + 1) Q ( t )
Operation
No change
Set
Reset S X 1
Q(t+ 1)
Q(t) R

29. J-K Flip-Flop Descriptors
Characteristic Table
Characteristic Equation Q(t+1) = J Q + K Q
Excitation Table 1
No change
Set
Reset
Complement
Operation J K
Q(t + 1) Q ( t )
Q(t + 1) 1
Q(t)
Operation X K J
No change
Set
Reset
No Change