DIGITAL SYSTEMS TCE1111

OTHER COMBINATIONAL
LOGIC CIRCUITS
WEEK 7 AND WEEK 8 (LECTURE 2 OF 3)
DECODERS
ENCODERS

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DECODER
A decoder is a logic circuit that accepts a set of inputs that
represents a binary number and activates only the output that
corresponds to the input number.
In other words, a decoder circuit looks at its inputs,
determines which binary number is present there, and activates
the one output that corresponds to that number ; all other
outputs remain inactive

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In its general form, a decoder has N input lines to handle N

bits and form one to 2 N output lines to indicate the presence of
one or more N-bit combinations.

The basic binary function

An AND gate can be used as the basic decoding element
because it produces a HIGH output only when all inputs are
HIGH
Refer next slide for example

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Decoding logic for the binary code 1001 with an active-HIGH output.

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General decoder diagram

# There are 2N possible input combinations, from A0 to AN1.

For each of these input combinations only one of the M outputs
will be active HIGH (1), all the other outputs are LOW (0).
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If an active-LOW output (74138, one of the output will

low and the rest will be high) is required for each decoded
number, the entire decoder can be implemented with
1. NAND gates
2. Inverters

If an active-HIGH output (74139, one of the output

will high and the rest will be low) is required for each
decoded number, the entire decoder can be implemented
with
AND gates
Inverters
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2-to-4-Line Decoder
(with Enable input)-Active LOW output (1)...

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2-to-4-Line Decoder
(with Enable input)-Active LOW output (2)
The circuit operates with complemented outputs and a
complement enable input. The decoder is enabled when E is equal
to 0.
Only one output can be equal to 0 at any given time, all other
outputs are equal to 1.
The output whose value is equal to 0 represents the minterm
selected by inputs A and B
The circuit is disabled when E is equal to 1.

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3-8 line decoder (active-HIGH)

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This decoder can be referred to in several ways. It can be

called a 3-line-to- 8-line decoder, because it has three input
lines and eight output lines.
It could also be called a binary-octal decoder or converters
because it takes a three bit binary input code and activates the
one of the eight outputs corresponding to that code. It is also
referred to as a 1-of-8 decoder, because only 1 of the 8
outputs is activated at one time.

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Logic diagram of 74138 (Example of a 3Bit Decoder)

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Truth table of 74138 (Example of a 3 8 Bit Decoder)

active-LOW

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74138 (Example of a 3 8 Bit Decoder)

There is an enable function on this device, a LOW level on each input

E1, and E2, and a HIGH level on input E3, is required in order to
make the enable gate output HIGH.
The enable is connected to an input of each NAND gate in the
decoder, so it must be HIGH for the NAND gate to be enabled.
If the enable gate is not activated then all eight decoder outputs will
be HIGH regardless of the states of the three input variables A0, A1,
and A2 .

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Example of a 5 to 32 Bit Decoder

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Logic symbol for a 4-line-to-16-line (1-of-16) decoder .

74HC154

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4-line-to-16 line Decoder constructed with two 3-lineto-8 line decoders (1)...

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4-line-to-16 line Decoder constructed with two 3-lineto-8 line decoders (2)
When w=0, the top decoder is enabled and the other is disabled.
The bottom decoder outputs are all 0s , and the top eight outputs
generate min-terms 0000 to 0111.
When w=1, the enable conditions are reversed. The bottom
decoder outputs generate min-terms 1000 to 1111, while the
outputs of the top decoder are all 0s.

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Application example

A simplified computer I/O port system with a port address decoder with only four address
lines shown.

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Decoders are used in many types of applications. One example is in

computers for I/O selection as in previous slide
Computer must communicate with a variety of external devices called
peripherals by sending and/or receiving data through what is known as
input/output (I/O) ports
Each I/O port has a number, called an address, which uniquely
identifies it. When the computer wants to communicate with a particular
device, it issues the appropriate address code for the I/O port to which
that particular device is connected . The binary port address is decoded
and appropriate decoder output is activated to enable the I/O port
Binary data are transferred within the computer on a data bus, which is
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a set of parallel lines

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BCD -to- Decimal decoders

The BCD- to-decimal decoder converts each BCD code into
one of Ten Positionable decimal digit indications. It is
frequently referred as a 4-line -to- 10 line decoder
The method of implementation is that only ten decoding gates
are required because the BCD code represents only the ten
decimal digits 0 through 9.
Each of these decoding functions is implemented with NAND
gates to provide active -LOW outputs. If an active HIGH
output is required, AND gates are used for decoding
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Logic diagram of BCD - decimal decoder

(Active LOW output)

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Output Waveform for BCD Decoder 22

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A Decoder Application - Counter -decoder combination used to

provide timing and sequential operations (1)...

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A Decoder Application - Counter -decoder combination used to provide

timing and sequential operations (1)...

Decoders are used whenever an output or a group of

outputs is to be activated only on the occurrence of specific
combination of input levels. These input levels are often
provided by the outputs of a counter or register.
When the decoder inputs come from a counter that is
being continually pulsed, the decoder outputs will be
activated sequentially, and there can be used as timing or
sequencing signals to turn device on or off at specific times

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BCD-7segment decoders/drivers
Most digital equipment has some means for
displaying information in a form that can
be understood by the user. This information
is often
numerical data but also be
alphanumeric.
One of the simplest and most popular
methods for displaying numerical digits
uses a 7-segment configuration to form
digital characters 0 to 9 and some times the
hex characters A to F
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One common arrangements uses light-emitting diodes (LED's)

for each segment. By controlling the current thru each LED,
some segments will be light and others will be dark so that
desired character pattern will be generated
Figure shows the
segment pattern that
are used to display
the various digits. For
example, to display a
6 the segments
a,c,d,e,f and g are
made bright while
segment b is dark
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7-segment decoder
A BCD-7 segment decoder/driver is used to take four-bit
BCD input and provide the outputs that will pass current
through the appropriate segments to display the decimal digit.
The logic for this decoder is more complicated than the logic
of decoders of earlier case, because each output is activated for
more than one combination of inputs.

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74LS47 ( BCDtoSevenSegment Decoder)

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Lamp Test (LT)

When LT = Low, BI/RBO = HIGH then all of the 7 segments
in display are turned zero, LT is used to verify that no
segments are burned out
Zero Suppression (BI, RBI, RBO)
Zero suppression is a feature used for multi digit displays to
blank out unnecessary zeros.
Example:
In a 6-digit display the number 6.4 may be displayed as
006.400 if the zeros are not blanked out
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Leading Zero Suppression

Blanking the zeros at the front of a numbers
Trailing Zero Suppression
Blanking the zeros at the back of the number
Only nonessential zeros are blanked, the number 030.080 will
be displayed as 30.08 (the essential zeros remain)

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7-segment display
There are two types of 7segment LED displays;
A) common - anode
B) common cathode

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Common Anode
In commonanode, the anode of all of the LEDs are tied together to
positive of the power supply (Vcc) as shown

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Common Cathode
In commoncathode, the cathode of all of the LEDs are tied together to
ground as shown.

GND

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Combinational Logic Circuit Implementation using a

Decoder
Any combinational logic circuit with n inputs and m outputs can
be implemented with an n-to-2n-line decoder and m OR gates.
Procedure:
Express the given Boolean function in sum of min-terms
Choose a decoder to generate all the min-terms of the input
variables.
Select the inputs to each OR gate from the decoder outputs
according to the list of min-term for each function.

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Combinational Logic Circuit Implementation

using a Decoder - An example (1)

From the truth table of the full adder,

x

the functions can be expressed in sum of min-terms.

S(x,y,z) = m(1,2,4,7)
C(x,y,z) = m(3,5,6,7)
where indicates sum, m indicates min-term and the number in brackets
indicate the decimal equivalent

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Combinational Logic Circuit Implementation

using a Decoder - An example (2)
Since there are three inputs and a total of eight min-terms, we need a
3-to-8 line decoder.
The decoder generates the eight min-terms for x,y,z
The OR gate for output S forms the logical sum of min-terms
1,2,4, and 7.
The OR gates for output C forms the logical sum of min-terms
3,5,6, and 7

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Combinational Logic Circuit Implementation using a

Decoder - example (3)

Implementation of a Full Adder with a38

Decoder

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Encoder
An encoder is a combinational logic circuit that essentially
performs a reverse of decoder functions.
An encoder accepts an active level on one of its inputs,
representing digit, such as a decimal or octal digits, and
converts it to a coded output such as BCD or binary.
Encoders can also be devised to encode various symbols and
alphabetic characters.
The process of converting from familiar symbols or numbers
to a coded format is called encoding.
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Most decoders accept an input code and produce a HIGH

( or a LOW) at one and only one output line. In otherworlds ,
a decoder identifies, recognizes, or detects a particular code.
The opposite of this decoding process is called encoding and
is performed by a logic circuit called an encoder.
An encoder has a number of input lines, only one of which
input is activated at a given time and produces an N-bit output
code,depending on which input is activated.
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General encoder diagram

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Logic circuit for octal-to binary encoder [8line- 3-line ]

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Truth table for octal-to binary encoder [8-line- 3-line ]

A low at any single input will produce the output binary code corresponding to that
input. For instance , a low at A3 will produce O2 =0, O1=1 and O0 =1, which is
binary code for 3. Ao is not connected to the logic gates because the encoder
outputs always be normally at 0000 when none of the inputs is LOW
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Design of 4-input Priority Encoder

( 4-line-to 2 line priority encoder) (1)...
A priority encoder is an encoder that includes the priority function
If two or more inputs are equal to 1 at the same time, the input
having the highest priority will take precedence.
Truth Table of a 4-input Priority Encoder:
Inputs Outputs
D0 D1 D2
D3
x
y
V
0
1
X
X
X

0
0
1
X
X

0
0
0
1
X

0
0
0
0
1

X
0
0
1
1

X
0
1
0
1

0
1
1
1
1

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Design of 4-input Priority Encoder

( 4-line-to 2 line priority encoder) (2)...
In addition to two outputs x, and y, the truth table has a third
output designated by V, which is a valid bit indicator that is set 1
when one or more inputs are equal to 1. If all inputs are 0, there is
no valid input and V is equal to 0.
Xs in the output column indicate dont care conditions, the Xs in
the input columns are useful for representing a truth table in
condensed form.
The higher the subscript number, the higher the priority of the
input. Input D3 has the highest priority, so regardless of the
values of the other inputs, when this input is 1, the output for xy
is 11 (binary 3)
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Design of 4-input Priority Encoder

( 4-line-to 2 line priority encoder) (3)...

V=D0+D1+D2+D3
K-Maps for 4-input Priority Encoder

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Design of 4-input Priority Encoder

( 4-line-to 2 line priority encoder) (4)

Logic Diagram for 4-input priority encoder

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Decimal-BCD priority encoder

Encoder will produce a BCD output corresponding to the

highest-order decimal digit input that is active and will ignore
any other lower order active inputs.
For instance if the input 6 and the 3 are active, the output
will be 1001, which is the inverse value of BCD output 0110
(which represents decimal 6)

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74147 decimal-BCD priority encoder

When A9 is low, the output is 0110, which is

inverse of 1001 ( eq to 9 in BCD) 49

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Decimal- BCD switch decoder

The output of the decoder are inversed to produce the normal

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BCD value

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The OctaltoBinary Priority EncoderExample

The 74LS148 is a priority encoder that has eight active LOW

inputs and three activeLOW binary outputs
To enable the device, the EI (enable input) must be LOW. It also
has the EO (enable output) and GS (group signal output) for
expansion purposes.

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The OctaltoBinary Encoder

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The OctaltoBinary Encoder

ActiveLOW enable input, a HIGH on the input forces all outputs

to their inactive state (HIGH).

ActiveLOW enable output, the output pin goes LOW when all
inputs are inactive (HIGH) and is LOW.

ActiveLOW group signal output, this output pin goes LOW

whenever any of the inputs are active (LOW) and is LOW.

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The 16 to4 Encoder

The 74LS148 can be expanded to a 16lineto4line encoder by

connecting the EO of the higherorder encoder to the EI of the
lowerorder encoder and negativeORing the corresponding
binary outputs as shown

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The 16 to4 Encoder

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Application example

A simplified keyboard encoder.

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When one of the keys is pressed, the decimal digit is encoded to the
corresponding BCD code
The keys are represented by 10 push-button switches, each with a pull-up
resistor to V+. The pull-up resistor ensures that the line is HIGH when a key is
not depressed.
When a key is depressed, the line is connected to ground, and a LOW is applied
to the corresponding encoder input.
The zero key is not connected because the BCD output represents zero when
none of the other keys is depressed
The BCD complement output of the encoder goes into a storage device, and
each successive BCD code is stored until the entire number has been entered

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Exercise
Sketch the output waveforms of the 74LS148 encoder based on the given waveforms.
Assume that

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