IGCSETM and O Level Computer Science

Boolean logic

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Have you ever wondered how a sensor works? Or a buzzer? A house alarm?

Logic gates have been and will continue to be a fundamental part of computing as they are

responsible for every ‘decision’ a system makes in order to get an output.

Activity: Research and share how logic gates are involved in making sensors work.

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Logic gates are the building blocks that control every piece of digital technology around
you. All computer hardware and software operate using ‘Boolean logic’, and every line of
program code is based on controlling the inputs and outputs of logic gates using ‘logic
statements’.

By the end of this subtopic, you will understand what logic gates are, where they are used,
how Boolean logic works, and how to create logic statements for just about any situation
around you.

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Logic gates are based on transistors and work on ‘conditions’ much like the conditions
we have around us every day.

▪ You get an A* if you score 90 or above, water starts to boil if the temperature is 100
or above.

▪ For a computer, these conditions look a little different.

▪ For example, if the user clicks on a file, and if the file is available, the computer will
display that file.
▪ Conditions like these are then changed into a form of binary ( 11 s and 00 s),
and these are then ‘programmed’ into electronic circuits with the help of logic
circuits.

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Input and output

In any computing situation, it is essential to be able to identify the inputs required to

form the output desired. Sometimes this is not immediately obvious, so it can be
helpful to train yourself to identify inputs and outputs in real-life or mathematical
situations. Here are some examples:

• To make tea (the output ) you need water and tea leaves (the inputs ).
• When you add 2 and 3, you get 5. The inputs in this situation are the numbers 2 and
3. The output is the number 5.

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Activity

Real-life inputs and outputs:

▪ What are the essential inputs to get an electric kettle to work?

▪ Look around you. Can you spot any real-life situation where inputs are
required in order to produce an output?

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Solution

▪ Switched ON

▪ Electricity

▪ Water

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14

Logic Gates
NOT, AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR

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A NOT gate

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An AND gate

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An OR gate

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A NAND gate

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A NOR gate

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An XOR gate

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15

Logic Gates
Solving a logic circuit

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Solving a logic circuit

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Solving a logic circuit: Part 1

0 0 0
0 0 0
0 1 0
0 1 0
1 0 0
1 0 0
1 1 1
1 1 1

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Solving a logic circuit: Part 1

0 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 0 0
0 1 0 0 0
0 1 1 0 0
1 0 0 0 1
1 0 1 0 0
1 1 0 1 0
1 1 1 1 0

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Solving a logic circuit: Part 2

0 1 1
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 1 1
0 0 0
1 0 1
1 0 1

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Solving a logic circuit: Part 3

1 0 1
0 1 1
0 0 0
0 1 1
1 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0

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Solving a logic circuit: Final solution

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((A OR B)XOR (B NAND C)) OR C

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16

Logic Gates
Designing a logic circuit

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Designing a logic circuit

A wind turbine safety system monitors:
▪ the speed of the turbine
▪ the temperature of the bearing
▪ the velocity of the wind.
Description Parameter Value Condition
Turbine
S
speed
Bearing
T
temperature
Wind
W
velocity

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Designing a logic circuit

A wind turbine safety system monitors:
▪ the speed of the turbine
▪ the temperature of the bearing
▪ the velocity of the wind.
Description Parameter Value Condition
Turbine
S
speed
Bearing
T
temperature
Wind
W
velocity

Shutdown conditions:
▪ S <= 1000 rpm and T > 80°C
▪ S > 1000 rpm and W > 120 kph
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Designing a logic circuit

A wind turbine safety system monitors:
▪ the speed of the turbine
▪ the temperature of the bearing
▪ the velocity of the wind.
Description Parameter Value Condition
Turbine 0 <= 1000 rpm
S
speed 1 > 1000 rpm
Bearing 0 <= 80°C
T
temperature 1 > 80°C
Wind 0 <= 120 kph
W
velocity 1 > 120 kph

Shutdown conditions:
▪ S <= 1000 rpm and T > 80c
▪ S > 1000 rpm and W > 120 kph
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Designing a logic circuit: Stages

1 Define logic statements from the problem

2 Generate a simple logic circuit for each logic
statement
3 Combine the simple circuits into a system circuit
4 Create a truth table for the system circuit

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 1

Description Parameter Value Condition

Turbine 0 <= 1000 rpm
S
speed 1 > 1000 rpm
Bearing 0 <= 80°C
T
temperature 1 > 80°C
Wind 0 <= 120 kph
W
velocity 1 > 120 kph

Shutdown conditions:
▪ S <= 1000 rpm and T > 80°C S=0 AND T=1
▪ S > 1000 rpm and W > 120 kph
▪ T <= 80°C and W > 120 kph

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 1

Description Parameter Value Condition

Turbine 0 <= 1000 rpm
S
speed 1 > 1000 rpm
Bearing 0 <= 80°C
T
temperature 1 > 80°C
Wind 0 <= 120 kph
W
velocity 1 > 120 kph

Shutdown conditions:
▪ S <= 1000 rpm and T > 80°C S=0 AND T=1
▪ S > 1000 rpm and W > 120 kph S=1 AND W=1
▪ T <= 80°C and W > 120 kph T=0 AND W=1

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 2

Logic statements:

▪ S=0 AND T=1

▪ S=1 AND W=1

▪ T=0 AND W=1

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 2

Logic statements:

▪ S=0 AND T=1

▪ S=1 AND W=1

▪ T=0 AND W=1

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 3

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 4

Logic statements:
INPUTS OUTPUT
▪ S=0 AND T=1 S NOT S T A
▪ S=1 AND W=1 0 1 0 0
0 1 1 1
▪ T=0 AND W=1 1 0 0 0
1 0 1 0

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 4

Logic statements:
INPUTS OUTPUTS
▪ S=0 AND T=1 S T W A B
▪ S=1 AND W=1 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1 0
▪ T=0 AND W=1 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0
0 1 1 1 0
1 0 1 0 1
1 1 1 0 1

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 4

Logic statements:
INPUTS OUTPUTS
▪ S=0 AND T=1 S T NOT T W A B C
▪ S=1 AND W=1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 1 0 0
▪ T=0 AND W=1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 1 1 0 0
1 0 1 1 0 1 1
1 1 0 1 0 1 0

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Designing a logic circuit: Stage 4

Logic statements:
INPUTS OUTPUTS
▪ S=0 AND T=1 S T W A B C D X
▪ S=1 AND W=1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1
▪ T=0 AND W=1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1
0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1
1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1

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▪ Activity 10.3 & 10.4

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Solve:

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