Faculty of Engineering and Technology Electrical and

Computer Engineering Department

DIGITAL ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER

ORGANIZATION LABORATORY ENCS2110

Experiment No.6
Sequential Logic Circuits using Breadboard and IC’s.

Prepared by:
Mohammad Shtayeh 12310228

Instructor: Dr. Hanya Radwan

Teaching assistant 1: Tarek Zidan
Teaching assistant 2: Katy Sadi

Section: 10
Date: 18th/April/2025
 Abstract

For this experiment, we will use the breadboard to build up a combinational circuit that counts
from 0 to 9 and displays the decimal number of a segment. We will use three different integrated
circuits for this experiment, a counter (chip 7490), a BCD (Binary-Coded-Decimal) to seven
segment display decoder (chip 7447), and a seven segment display. We will learn about the pin
assignment for each chip, where each pin must be connected, and their functions.
Upon completion of the testing, I am expected to be able to construct this combinational circuit,
and to construct more complex ones that use the same integrated circuits and have similar
functionalities.

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 Table of Contents

Abstract_____________________________________________________________________ IV
Table of Contents _____________________________________________________________ V
Table of Figures ______________________________________________________________ VI
List of Tables ________________________________________________________________ VII
1. Theory __________________________________________________________________ 1
1.1 7490 Counter _______________________________________________________________ 1
1.1.1 Pin Assignment _________________________________________________________________ 1
1.2 7447 BCD to Seven-Segment Decoder ____________________________________________ 2
1.2.1 Pin Assignment _________________________________________________________________ 3
1.3 Seven Segment Display _______________________________________________________ 4
1.3.1 Pin Assignment _________________________________________________________________ 5

2. Procedure _______________________________________________________________ 6
2.1 Constructing the BCD Counter Circuit with Seven Segment Display: ___________________ 6
2.1.1 Circuit Disccussion ______________________________________________________________ 7

Conclusion ___________________________________________________________________ 9
References__________________________________________________________________ 10

V
 Table of Figures

Figure 1: Counter Chip Pins Assignment [1] .................................................................................. 1

Figure 2: 7447 Decoder Pins Assignment. [5] ................................................................................ 3
Figure 3: Seven-Segment Display LEDs Arrangement. [5]............................................................ 4
Figure 4: LED Internal Construction. [4] ....................................................................................... 4
Figure 5: Type of Configuration of a Seven-Segment Display [5] ................................................. 4
Figure 6: Pins Assignment for 7-Segment Display [6] ................................................................... 5
Figure 7: Demonstration of the Construction of the Circuit ........................................................... 6
Figure 8: Final Construction and Wiring of the Circuit .................................................................. 7
Figure 9: The Circuit Showing the Numbers 0 to 9 ........................................................................ 8

VI
 List of Tables

Table 1: Information on the Pins of the 7490 Chip [1] ................................................................... 2

Table 2: Description of the 7447 Pins [2] ....................................................................................... 3
Table 3: Information on the Pins of the Display Chip [6]............................................................... 5

VII
1. Theory

1.1 7490 Counter

The primary function of the IC 7490 is to count in decimal (0-9) sequence. It has four internal
flip-flops that enable it to count in a decade sequence, making it suitable for various counting
applications. It belongs to the 74xx series of logic components. [1]
The IC 7490 features a gated zero reset input. When this input is activated, the counter is reset to
zero, allowing you to start counting from the beginning. To activate it you have to inspect the
binary number of you want to reset at then take the corresponding inputs to the ones of the
number and connect them to the reset zero pins (pins 2 and 3). [1]
It counts based on clock pulses applied to its Clock Input pin. Each rising or falling edge of the
clock input triggers the counter to advance to the next count in the sequence. [1]
The IC has four outputs labeled as A, B, C, and D. These outputs represent the current count in
binary form. In BCD mode, they indicate the BCD code for the count (0 to 9), with D being the
Most Significant Bit, and A being the Least Significant Bit. [1]

1.1.1 Pin Assignment

The pin assignment for the 7490 chip is as follows:

Figure 1: Counter Chip Pins Assignment [1]

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Table 1 shows what each pin’s name is, and its description:
Table 1: Information on the Pins of the 7490 Chip [1]

Pin No. Pin Name Description

1 CLKB Clock Input for the second group of flip-flops, since
it is a ripple a counter,. Often connected to the LSB.
2 R01 Reset Pin (Resets the circuit to zero)
3 R02 Reset Pin
4 NC Not connected to the circuit
5 VCC Positive Power Supply Pin
6 R91 Reset Pin (Resets to nine)
7 R92 Reset Pin
8 QC Output Pin 3 (2nd MSB)
9 QB Output Pin 2 (2nd LSB)
10 GND Negative Power Supply Pin
11 QD Output Pin 4 (MSB)
12 QA Output Pin 1 (LSB)
13 NC Not connected to the Circuit
14 CLKA Clock Input, connected either to a manual clock
or to a signal generator

1.2 7447 BCD to Seven-Segment Decoder

The IC 7447 is a BCD-to-7-segment decoder, the conversion involves translating Binary-Coded

Decimal (BCD) data into its equivalent decimal representation. The architecture and
functionality of this specific chip rely heavily on principles of Boolean algebra and logic gates.
[2]

A specialized decoder transforms the BCD information into a format suitable for a 7-segment
display. The IC 7447 chip is designed to accept and process BCD inputs corresponding to 7-
segment display codes. [2]

The 74xx47 integrated circuit is engineered to control a 7-segment display and is specifically
compatible with common anode 7-segment displays. The chip receives a 4-bit binary input
labelled as DCBA, where D stands for the 8's place, C represents the 4's, B the 2's, and A the 1's.
These 4-bit inputs usually originate from a binary counting mechanism (e.g. 7490 chip). [2]
The display output makes sense only when the 4-bit binary number DCBA falls within the range
of 0000 (which represents the digit 0) to 1001 (or the digit 9). This 4-bit binary representation is
commonly known as Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD). If you input a binary number greater than 9
into the chip, the display will yield an anomalous output. [2]

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 1.2.1 Pin Assignment

Figure 2: 7447 Decoder Pins Assignment. [5]

Table 2: Description of the 7447 Pins [2]

Pin Number Pin Name Description

1 B BCD B Input
2 C BCD C Input
3 LT Lamp Test (Active Low)
4 BI/RBO Blanking Input / Ripple Blanking Output (Active Low)
5 RBI Ripple Blanking Input (Active Low)
6 D BCD D Input
7 A BCD A Input
8 GND Negative Supply
9 e 7-Segment e Output
10 d 7-Segment d Output
11 c 7-Segment c Output
12 b 7-Segment b Output
13 a 7-Segment a Output
14 g 7-Segment g Output
15 f 7-Segment f Output
16 VCC Positive Supply

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 1.3 Seven Segment Display

The 7-segment display, consists of seven LED’s (Light Emitting Diode) arranged in a rectangular
fashion, in addition to a decimal point. Each of the seven LEDs is called a segment because
when illuminated the segment forms part of a numerical digit to be displayed, they are arranged
as shown below in Figure 3. [3]

Figure 3: Seven-Segment Display LEDs Arrangement. [5]

Inside the segment display, each LED has two terminals, an Anode (+), and a Cathode (-). [4]

Figure 4: LED Internal Construction. [4]

In the segment all the LEDs must have a common point, if the common point is connected to the
positive power supply and they are tied from the anode, while the cathode of each LED is wired
to its matching segment input. It is called a common anode configuration. [5]
And if the common point is tied to the ground, then the LEDs are connected together from the
cathode, and each anode is connected to the corresponding input. It is called a common cathode
configuration. [5]

Figure 5: Type of Configuration of a Seven-Segment Display [5]

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In both configurations, current-limiting resistors are used to lower the amount of current that the
driver sends into the LEDs. This achieves two goals: [5]
1- Control the brightness of the LEDs.
2- Prevent over-current (that may burn the LEDs).

1.3.1 Pin Assignment

This is the general pin assignment for a seven-segment display, pin 8 and 3 are the common
point, discussed above. In this experiment, common cathode configuration is used, so the
common points are GND.

Figure 6: Pins Assignment for 7-Segment Display [6]

Table 3: Information on the Pins of the Display Chip [6]

Pin Number Pin Name Description

1 e Controls the left bottom LED of the 7-segment display
2 d Controls the bottom most LED of the 7-segment display
3 Com Connected to Ground/Vcc based on type of display
4 c Controls the right bottom LED of the 7-segment display
5 DP Controls the decimal point LED of the 7-segment display
6 b Controls the top right LED of the 7-segment display
7 a Controls the top most LED of the 7-segment display
8 Com Connected to Ground/Vcc based on type of display
9 f Controls the top left LED of the 7-segment display
10 g Controls the middle LED of the 7-segment display

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 2. Procedure
2.1 Constructing the BCD Counter Circuit with Seven
Segment Display:

Figure 7: Demonstration of the Construction of the Circuit

To build this combinational circuit, that consists of the three ICs, a Counter (7490 chip),
BCD to 7-segment Decoder (7447 chip), and a seven segment dislay:

- First, the ICs were lined up on the breadboard, where each set of pins is on a different
terminal strip, so the pins on each side are seperated, so that the connection of the circuit is
correct.
- Then the VCC pin in the chips were connected with the positive high voltage (+5v), and the
GND pin with the ground from the power supply.
- The Reset pins on the 7490 chip were connected with the ground, CLKA was connected with
a signal generator or a manual clock, CLKB, which is the clock for the second flip flop, was
attached with QA (LSB).
- Then the inputs QD ~ QA were linked with the inpts D ~ A on the decoder.
- On the decoder, the LT and BI/RBO pins were fastened with the high voltage, the RBI pin
was linked with the ground.
- The seven-segment outputs a ~ g were attached with the 7-segment inputs on the seven-
segment display.
- Before connecting the display with the ground we have to connect it with a resistor so that
current flowing to is limited, to preserve it and extend its life time

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 Figure 8 demonstrates how the circuit looked after it was finished, and the connections was
done as mentioned above.

Figure 8: Final Construction and Wiring of the Circuit

2.1.1 Circuit Disccussion

Based on the experimental results, it can be said that the construction was successful.
The time took to construct this circuit didn’t exceed an hour in the lab.
Delving into the construction of the counter, it can be modified so that it can count till a specific
number, for instance, if we want the circuit to count from 0 to 5, that means it has to reset to zero
when 6 is reach. So, we have to inspect the binary number of 6 which is 0110, then connect the
inputs(C & B, in this case) corresponding with the ones with the reset zero pins (pin 2 & pin 3).
Also, another combinational circuit like this one can be brought to construct a binary counter
from 00 to 99. Which can be done by connecting the CLKA of the second CC counter with the
QD (MSB) of the former CC.

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Figure 9: The Circuit Showing the Numbers 0 to 9

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Conclusion

At last, my understanding of the counter chips (7490), decoder chip (7447), and the
seven-segment display has improved. Now, I can implement a BCD counter
combinational circuit that counts from 0 to 9, or from 0 to any wanted number, or a CC
that counts till 99, and all of these adjustments have to be done on the counter chips’
wiring. Overall, the experiment was really useful and it had very important and valuable
knowledge, it was fun too.

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References

[1] "ovaga," [Online]. Available: https://www.ovaga.com/blog/package/ic-

7490-decade-counter-datasheet-features-pinout-circuit-and-
working#simple-list-item-2. [Accessed 18 April 2025].

[2] "jotrin," [Online]. Available:

https://www.jotrin.com/technology/details/ic-
7447#:~:text=The%20IC%207447%20belongs%20to,a%2015V%20op
en%20collector%20output.. [Accessed 18 April 2025].

[3] "Electronic Tutorials," [Online]. Available: https://www.electronics-

tutorials.ws/blog/7-segment-display-tutorial.html. [Accessed 18 April
2025].

[4] "Soldered," [Online]. Available: https://soldered.com/learn/led-light-

emitting-diode-explained/. [Accessed 18 April 2025].

[5] "ENCS2110 Manual," [Online]. Available: https://students-

hub.com/view-resource/49f1a7d3-e330-4b21-9d41-
1a6594d1ec6e/The_Lab_Manual.pdf. [Accessed 17 April 2025].

[6] "Components," [Online]. Available:

https://components101.com/displays/7-segment-display-pinout-
working-datasheet. [Accessed 18 April 2025].

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