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REVISION QUESTIONS
COS 301/COS343 – DIGITAL SYSTEMS DESIGN
1. A four-input one-output combinational circuit is to be designed, such that the output F
is true if the input is divisible by a multiple of 4, 5, 6, or 7, with the exception of 15,
otherwise the output is false. Note: zero is not divisible by 4, 5, 6, or 7.
i. Draw a truth table to represent the algorithm.
ii. From the truth table obtain a simplified sum of products expression for F by
means of Boolean algebraic techniques.
iii. By means of K-map obtain a simplified SOP expression for F.
iv. Express F in product-of-sums form.
v. Design a logic circuit to implement F using basic gates.

2. Minimize the Boolean expression F = A B + A B C + A C + BC and draw the logic

circuit using 2- input NAND gates only.

3. At a mail –order cosmetics, an automatic control device is used to supervise the

packaging of orders. The firm sells lipstick, perform, make-up, and nail polish. As a
bonus item, shampoo is included with any order that includes perform, or any order
that includes lipstick, make-up, and nail polish. Design a logic circuit for the control
of sale in the shop. Use Basic logic gates.

4. Design a BCD-to-seven-segment decoder. The decoder has a 4-bit natural binary

BCD input represented by A B C D, where A is the most significant bit as shown in
the figure 1(below), such that when one of its seven outputs (a to g) is true, the
corresponding segment of the display is illuminated.

Figure 1

5. Sketch a logic circuit for the expression A.C . (B + C ). B . Choice of logic symbols is
optional.
6. a.Write the truth table for the following functions:
i. F1 = A + A B
ii. F2 = AB + BC
iii. F3 = A + AB + AC
iv. F4 = AC + A B + B C
b. Write the minterms for the switching functions in Q6a (i-iv).
c. Write the maxterms for the switching functions in Q6a (i-iv).
d. State the de-Morgans theorem in words only.

7. In the following short-hand form of a truth table F (A, B, C) = m (1, 2, 4, 7).

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(i) Express F as a canonical sum - of - products expression assuming that all variables
and their complements are available.
(ii) Express the function F as a canonical product- of - sums expression.

8. A corporation having 100 shares entitles the owner of each share to cast one vote at
the shareholder’s meeting. Assume that A has 40 shares, B has 30 shares, C has 20
shares and D has 10 shares. A two-third majority is required to pass a resolution in a
shareholder’s meeting. Each of these four men has a switch which he closes to vote
YES and opens to vote NO for his percentage of shares. When the resolution is passed
the output, LED must be ON. (i) Draw a truth table for the output function. (ii) Using
K-map, write the minimal SOP expression (iii) Design a logic circuit to control the
voting. Use basic logic gates.

9. In a certain automated manufacturing process, electrical components are

automatically inserted in a printed circuit board (pcb). Before the insertion tool is
activated, the pcb must be properly positioned and the component must be in the
chamber. Each of these prerequisite conditions is indicated by a HIGH voltage level.
The insertion tool requires a LOW voltage level to activate it. Draw the truth table and
sketch the logic circuit required to implement the process.

10. Simplify the function: F = m (0, 2, 3, 6, 7) + d (8, 10, 11, 15) and obtain (i) the
minimal SOP expression (ii) the minimal POS expression?
11. Show that the XOR operator is associative, so that
(A B)  C = A  (B  C).

12. Write the truth table for the expression F = ( A + B ) + ( A + C ) + ( B + C )

13. In the accompanying figure 2, the outputs of a full subtractor circuit is fed into a full
adder Circuit as shown with the following waveforms for X, Y, and Bin. Determine
the corresponding waveforms for D, Bout, S and Cout?

X D A S
Full Full Adder
Y Bout Bt
Subtractor
Bin Cout

Figure2 Cin

14. Simplify the function: F=m (1, 3, 7, 11, 15) + d (0, 2, 4, 5, 6) and obtain (i) minimal
SOP expression (ii) the minimal POS expression.
15. A simple security system for one door consists of a card reader and a keypad
(see figure3).
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A
Card Reader B X To Door 1

Logic
C Y To Alarm 1
Circuit
D

Keypad

Figure 3
A person may open a particular door if he or she has a card containing the corresponding
code and enters an authorized keypad code for that card. The outputs from the card reader
are as follows:

A B
0 0 No card inserted
0 1 Valid code for door1
1 1 Invalid code
1 0 Invalid code

To unlock a door, a person must hold down the proper keys on the keypad and then insert the
card in the reader. The authorized keypad codes for door 1 are 10 and 11. If the card has an
invalid code or if the wrong keypad code is entered, the alarm will ring when the card is
inserted. If the correct keypad code is entered, the corresponding door will be unlocked when
the card is inserted. Draw the truth table, Karnaugh maps and write the Boolean expression
for this simple security system.
Your circuit’s inputs will consist of a card code AB, and a keypad code CD. The circuit will
have two outputs XY (X=1  door 1 will be opened, Y = 1  the alarm will sound).

16. For the input waveforms in figure 4, what logic circuit would generate the output
waveform shown?

Input B

Output X

Figure 4 Waveforms for A. B. C and X

17. Minimize the Boolean expression F = A B + A BC + A C + BC and draw the logic

circuit using 2-inpt NAND gates only.

18. A room has one lamp, L and two switches, S1 and S2. It is desired that the lamp be
capable of being switched ON and OFF from either switch. (i) Draw the truth table for
the operation and write the logic expression; (ii) Assume you now have switches, S1,
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S2, and S3, develop the new truth table to switch the lamp, L ON and OFF from any
of the three switches; (iii) Draw the logic circuit for the three switch arrangement.

19. Explain the following terms:

(i) Single-chip computers
(ii) Single-board computers
(iii) Multiple-board bus-based computer
20. With the aid of sketches, describe two alternative architectures of the computer
system.

21. Design a divide- by- 5 synchronous counter. Use the JK flip flop.

22. Sketch a logic circuit for the expression: A.C . (B + C ). B . Choice of logic symbols
is optional.
23. Implement the function f(ABCD) = m (1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15). Use basic gates.

24. Design a logic circuit whose input is a four - bit number and whose output is the 2’s
complement of the input number. Use basic gates.

25. Design a divide - by - 4 count- down counter using the JK flip- flops.

26. The accompanying figure 5 shows a sequential circuit.

Xn Yn

Figure 5
+ an + bn 2

(i) Draw the circuit after the (n+1)st clock pulse.

(ii) Express the next state in terms of the present state and next input
(iii) Express the next output in terms of the present state and next input
(iv) Produce a state table and a state diagram.
27. The accompanying figure 6 shows a simple sequential circuit before clock pulse.

Figure 6
2
+ Sn

a) Draw the sequential circuit after clock pulse;

b) Express the next output Yn+1, and the next state Sn+1 in terms of the next input Xn+1 and the
present state Sn.
c) Draw the state table and the state diagram for the circuit.

28.With the aid of a sketch of the structure of a CPU, Explain the following terms:
i) BIU (ii) EU (iii) Flags (iv) Physical Address
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29 You have just been hired at the ANAMCO motors. Your job is to design a logic
circuit so that a car can be started only when the automatic transmission is in neutral or
park, and the driver’s seat belt is fastened. (i) Find the truth table, (ii) Write the Boolean
expression for the logic and (iii) Design the logic circuit using 2 – input NAND gate only
(iv) Design the logic circuit using basic gates only.

30 Write the Boolean expressions for the following shorthand expressions:

(i) f(ABCD) = m (0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
(ii) f(ABCD) = m (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).
31. Find the truth table for the following expressions:
(i) e = ((p AND q) OR r)  (p OR 7r) (ii) e = (pq) OR (p 7q)

32Show by appropriate method that if the 0’s and 1’s in the truth table of an AND - gate
are interchanged, it becomes a truth table for an OR – gate.

33. Design a divide - by - 4 up-down counter using the JK flip- flops.

34. The accompanying figure 7 shows the desired display of the decimal digits.

Figure 7: Desired display

Draw the truth table for the desired display shown in figure 7 and write the Boolean
expression for a, b, c, d, e, f and g segments.
35Show that the following expression is a tautology: e = (pq) OR (p 7q).
36. Define the following terms: (i) Boolean algebra (ii) Gate (iii) Tautology (iv)
Combinational logic (v) sequential logic (vi) Karnaugh map (vii) Truth table (viii)
Minterm form (ix) maxterm form
37. State the De-Morgan’s theorem in words ONLY.
38. The accompanying figure 8 shows a simple sequential circuit.

S Yn
Xn n
Figure 8

a) Draw the sequential circuit after clock pulse;

b) Find the expressions for the next output Yn+1, and the next state Sn+1 , respectively.
c) Draw the state table and the state diagram for the circuit.
39. Design a logic system to control an automatic security light like this: the light must come
ON when it is dark and somebody passes in front of it. Use Basic logic gates.