All these circuits have a set of outputs, which depends only on the combination
of present inputs.
The following figure shows the block diagram of sequential circuit.
This sequential circuit contains a set of inputs and outputs.
The outputs of sequential circuit depends not only on the combination of
present inputs but also on the previous outputs. Previous output is nothing but
the present state. Therefore, sequential circuits contain combinational circuits
along with memory storage elements. Some sequential circuits may not
contain combinational circuits, but only memory elements.
Following table shows the differences between combinational circuits and
sequential circuits.
Combinational Circuits Sequential Circuits
Outputs depend only on Outputs depend on both present inputs
present inputs. and present state.
Feedback path is not present. Feedback path is present.
Memory elements are not
Memory elements are required.
required.
Clock signal is not required. Clock signal is required.
Easy to design. Difficult to design.
Types of Sequential Circuits
Following are the two types of sequential circuits −
• Asynchronous sequential circuits
• Synchronous sequential circuits
Asynchronous sequential circuits
If some or all the outputs of a sequential circuit do not change affect with
respect to active transition of clock signal, then that sequential circuit is called
as Asynchronous sequential circuit. That means, all the outputs of
asynchronous sequential circuits do not change affect at the same time.
Therefore, most of the outputs of asynchronous sequential circuits are not in
synchronous with either only positive edges or only negative edges of clock
signal.
Synchronous sequential circuits
If all the outputs of a sequential circuit change affect with respect to active
transition of clock signal, then that sequential circuit is called as Synchronous
sequential circuit. That means, all the outputs of synchronous sequential
circuits change affect at the same time. Therefore, the outputs of synchronous
sequential circuits are in synchronous with either only positive edges or only
negative edges of clock signal.
Clock Signal and Triggering
Clock signal is a periodic signal and its ON time and OFF time need not be the
same.
We can represent the clock signal as a square wave, when both its ON time
and OFF time are same.
This clock signal is shown in the following figure.
In the above figure, square wave is considered as clock signal. This signal stays
at logic High 5V for some time and stays at logic Low 0V for equal amount of
time.
This pattern repeats with some time period. In this case, the time period will
be equal to either twice of ON time or twice of OFF time.
The reciprocal of the time period of clock signal is known as the frequency of
the clock signal.
All sequential circuits are operated with clock signal. So, the frequency at
which the sequential circuits can be operated accordingly the clock signal
frequency has to be chosen.
Types of Triggering
Following are the two possible types of triggering that are used in sequential
circuits.
• Level triggering
• Edge triggering
Level triggering
There are two levels, namely logic High and logic Low in clock signal.
Following are the two types of level triggering.
• Positive/High level triggering
• Negative/Low level triggering
If the sequential circuit is operated with the clock signal when it is in Logic
High, then that type of triggering is known as Positive/High level triggering. It
is highlighted in below figure.
If the sequential circuit is operated with the clock signal when it is in Logic Low,
then that type of triggering is known as Negative/Low level triggering. It is
highlighted in the following figure.
Edge triggering
There are two types of transitions that occur in clock signal. That means, the
clock signal transitions either from Logic Low to Logic High or Logic High to
Logic Low.
Following are the two types of edge triggering based on the transitions of
clock signal.
• Positive edge triggering
• Negative edge triggering
If the sequential circuit is operated with the clock signal that is transitioning
from Logic Low to Logic High, then that type of triggering is known as Positive
edge triggering. It is also called as rising edge triggering. It is shown in the
following figure.
If the sequential circuit is operated with the clock signal that is transitioning
from Logic High to Logic Low, then that type of triggering is known as Negative
edge triggering. It is also called as falling edge triggering. It is shown in the
following figure.
In coming chapters, we will discuss about various sequential circuits based on
the type of triggering that can be used in it.
