UNIT-2

Combinational Logic Circuits

A combinational circuit is a connected arrangement of logic gates with a set of inputs and outputs.

Combinational Logic Circuits are made up from basic logic NAND, NOR or NOT gates that are
o i ed or o e ted together to produ e ore o pli ated swit hi g ir uits. These logic gates
are the building blocks of combinational logic circuits.

Combinational circuits made up from individual logic gates that carry out a desired application
include Multiplexers, De-multiplexers, Encoders, Decoders, Full and Half Adders etc.

A combinational circuit comprises of input variables, logic gates and output variables. The logic gates
accepts the inputs and depending on the type of functioning of the logic gate, output signals are
generated from them.

fig : Block diagram of Combinational circuit

The figure shows the schematic representation of a generalized combinational logic circuit consisting of
n input variable and m output variables.

The n binary input variables come from an external source, m binary output variables go to an external
destination, and in between there is an interconnection of logic gates.

There are n input variables and hence there will be 2n possible combinations of bits at the input. By a
Boolean expression of input variables, each output is expressed. So the result can be expressed by m
Boolean expressions.

Combinational circuits are used in a wide variety applications including calculators, digital measuring
techniques, computers, digital processing, automatic control of machines, industrial processing, digital
communications, etc.
 The Multiplexer (Data Selectors)
Multiplexing is the generic term used to describe the operation of sending one or more
analogue or digital signals over a common transmission line at different times or speeds and as
such, the device we use to do that is called a Multiplexer.
Multiplexer means many into one. It is a combinational circuit that receives binary information
from one of 2n input data lines and directs it to a single output line.
A multiplexer is a circuit used to select and route any one of the several input signals to a signal
output.
A multiplexer of 2n inputs has n selected lines, are used to select which input line to send to the
output. If there are n data input lines and m select lines, then
2m = n

Shown below is the multiplexer with n input signal, m control signals and one output signal.

Applications of Multiplexers
Multiplexers are used in various applications wherein multiple-data need to be transmitted by using
single line.

 Communication System
A communication system has both a communication network and a transmission system. By using a
multiplexer, the efficiency of the communication system can be increased by allowing the transmission
of data, such as audio and video data from different channels through single lines or cables.

 Computer Memory
Multiplexers are used in computer memory to maintain a huge amount of memory in the computers,
and also to reduce the number of copper lines required to connect the memory to other parts of the
computer.

 Telephone Network
In telephone networks, multiple audio signals are integrated on a single line of transmission with the
help of a multiplexer.
 Multiplexer Types
Multiplexers are classified into four types:
 2-1 multiplexer ( 1 select line)
 4-1 multiplexer (2 select lines)
 8-1 multiplexer(3 select lines)
 16-1 multiplexer (4 select lines)

2:1 Multiplexer
Block Diagram Truth Table

 A 2-to-1 multiplexer consists of two inputs D0 and D1, one select input S and one output Y.
Depends on the select signal, the output is connected to either of the inputs.

 Since there are two input signals only two ways are possible to connect the inputs to the
outputs, so one select is needed to do these operations.

 If the select line is low, then the output will be switched to D0 input, whereas if select line is
high, then the output will be switched to D1 input.
 The 4-to-1 multiplexer has 4 input bit, 2 control bits, and 1 output bit.

 The four input bits are I0,I1,I2 and I3. Only one of this is transmitted to the output F. The output
depends on the value of S1 and S0 which is the control input. The control input determines which
of the input data bit is transmitted to the output.

 When S1S0 = 00, the upper AND gate is enabled while all other AND gates are disabled.
Therefore, data bit I0 is transmitted to the output, giving F = Io.

 If the control input is changed to S0S1 =11, all gates are disabled except the bottom AND gate. In
this case, I3 is transmitted to the output and F = I3.
 It has eight data inputs I0 to I7, three select inputs S0 to S2, an enable input and one output.

 An 8-to-1 multiplexer with enable input that enable or disable the multiplexer. Since the number
data bits given to the MUX are eight then 3 bits (23=8) are needed to select one of the eight data
bits.

 For example, if S2= 0, S1=1 and S0=0 then the data output Y is equal to I2. Similarly the data
outputs I0 to I7 will be selected through the combinations of S2, S1 and S0.

 When enable pin is set to one, the multiplexer will be disabled and if it is zero then select lines
will select the corresponding data input to pass through the output.
 De-multiplexer
 A de-multiplexer is a combinational logic circuit that receives the information on a single
input and transmits the same information over one of 2n possible output lines.

 The de-multiplexer is also called as data distributors since they transmit the same data
which is received at the input to different destinations.

 A de-multiplexer is a 1-to-N device where as the multiplexer is an N-to-1 device.

 A de-multiplexer performs the reverse operation of a multiplexer i.e. it receives one input
and distributes it over several outputs. It has only one input, n outputs, m select input. At a
time only one output line is selected by the select lines and the input is transmitted to the
selected output line.

 The main difference between a multiplexer and a de-multiplexer is that a multiplexer takes
two or more signals and encodes them on a wire, whereas a de-multiplexer does reverse to
what the multiplexer does.

Types of De multiplexer
De-multiplexers are classified into four types

 1-2 de-multiplexer (1 select line)

 1-4 de-multiplexer (2 select lines)
 1-8 de-multiplexer (3 select lines)
 1-16 de-multiplexer (4 select lines)
1:2 De-multiplexer

Block diagram Truth Table

Circuit Diagram

 A 1-to-2 de-multiplexer consists of one input line, two output lines and one select line. The
signal on the select line helps to switch the input to one of the two outputs.

 When the select input is low, then the input will be passed to Y0 and if the select input is
high then the input will be passed to Y1.

 In the table, output Y1 is active when the combination of select line and input line are active
high, i.e., SD = 11.

 Therefore, the output Y1 = SD and similarly the output Y0 is equal to S'D.

1-4 De-multiplexer circuit

Block Diagram Truth Table

Circuit Diagram

 A 1-to-4 de-multiplexer has a single input (D), two selection lines (S1 and S0) and four outputs (Y0
to Y3). The input data goes to any one of the four outputs at a given time for a particular
combination of select lines.

 This de-multiplexer is also called as a 2-to-4 de-multiplexer which means that two select lines
and 4 output lines.

 When S1=0 and S0= 0, the data input is connected to output Y0 and when S1= 0 and S0=1, then
the data input is connected to output Y1.

 Where D is the input data, Y0 to Y3 are output lines and S0 & S1 are select lines.
  1-8 De-multiplexer circuit

Block Diagram Truth Table

Circuit Diagram

 1-to-8 de-multiplexer circuit diagram uses 8 AND gates for achieving the operation. The
input bit is considered as data D and it is transmitted to the output lines. This depends on
the control input value of the S2,S1 and S0.

 A 1-to-8 de-multiplexer that consists of single input D, three select inputs S2, S1 and S0 and
eight outputs from Y0 to Y7.

 It is also called as 3-to-8 de-multiplexer due to three select input lines. It distributes one
input line to one of 8 output lines depending on the combination of select inputs.
  For example, if S2S1S0=000, then the input D is connected to the output Y0 and so on.

 From this truth table, the Boolean expressions for all the outputs can be written as follows.

Applications of De multiplexer
De multiplexers are used to connect a single source to multiple destinations. These applications
include the following:

 Communication System
Mux and demux both are used in communication system to carry out the process of data
transmission. A De-multiplexer receives the output signals from the multiplexer and at the receiver
end it converts them back to the original form.

 Arithmetic Logic Unit

The output of the ALU is fed as an input to the De-multiplexer, and the output of the de-multiplexer
is connected to a multiple register. The output of the ALU can be stored in multiple registers.
Encoder
Encoder is a combinational circuit which is designed to perform the inverse operation of the
decoder. An encoder has n number of input lines and m number of output lines.

The purpose of encoder is standardization, speed, secrecy, security, or saving space by shrinking
size

Generally, digital encoders produce outputs of 2-bit, 3-bit or 4-bit codes depending upon the
number of data input lines. An n-bit binary encoder has 2n input lines and n-bit output lines with
common types that include 4-to-2, 8-to-3 and 16-to-4 line configurations.

Block diagram

4-to-2 Bit Binary Encoder

The output Q0 is 1 when either input D1 or D3 is 1, also the output Q1 is set to 1 when either
input D2 or D3 is 1.

Circuit Diagram
 Decimal To BCD Encoder

A decimal to BCD encoder has 10 input lines D0 to D9 and 4 output lines Y0 to Y3. Below is the truth
table for a decimal to BCD encoder.

From the truth table, the outputs can be expressed by following Boolean Function.

Note: Below boolean functions are formed by ORing all the input lines for which output is 1. For
instance Y0 is 1 for D1, D3, D5, D7 & D9 input lines.
Y 0 = D1 + D 3 + D 5 + D 7 + D 9
Y 1 = D2 + D 3 + D 6 + D 7
Y 2 = D4 + D 5 + D 6 + D 7
Y 3 = D8 + D 9

The decimal to BCD encoder can therefore be implemented with OR gates whose inputs are
determined directly from truth table as shown in the image below.
DECODER

Decoder is a combinational logic circuit that converts coded input to coded outputs provided both of these are
different from one another.

The name decoder means translating of coded information from one format into another. So the input code
generally has fewer bits than output code word.

A digital decoder converts a set of digital signals into corresponding decimal code. The encoded data is decoded
for user interface in most of the output devices like monitors, calculator displays, printers, etc. once after the
information is encoded by encoders.

Types-

a) 2-to-4 decoder
b) 3-to-8 decoder
c) 4-to-16 line binary decoder

2-to-4 Binary Decoder

In a 2-to-4 binary decoder, two inputs are decoded into four outputs hence it consists of two input lines and 4
output lines. Only one output is active at any time while the other outputs are maintained at logic 0 and the output
which is held active or high is determined the two binary inputs A and B.

Block Diagram

The outputs Y0 through Y3 are active high if enable input EN is active high (EN = 1). When both inputs A and B are
low (or A= B= 0), the output Y0 will be active or High and all other outputs will be low.

When A = 0 and B = 1, the output Y1 will be active and when A = 1 and B = 0, then the output Y2 will be active.
When both the inputs are high, then the output Y3 will be high.

If the enable bit is zero then all the outputs will be set to zero.
 Truth Table

From the above truth table we can obtain Boolean expression for the each output as

These expressions can be implemented by using basic logic gates. Thus, the logic circuit design of the 2-to-4 line
decoder is implemented by using NOT and AND gates. Two NOT gates or inverters provide the complement of
inputs.

Circuit Diagram
ADDER
A combinational circuit that performs the arithmetic addition is called an Adder.
There are two types of adder:
a) Half Adder
b) Full Adder

a) Half Adder
Half adder is a combinational logic circuit with two inputs and two outputs. The half adder circuit is
designed to add two single bit binary number A and B.

It is the basic building block for addition of two single bit numbers. This circuit has two
outputs carry and sum.
Block diagram Truth Table Circuit Diagram

b) Full Adder
Full adder is developed to overcome the drawback of Half Adder circuit. It can add two one-bit
numbers A and B, and carry C. The full adder is a three input and two output combinational circuit.

Truth Table Block diagram

Cout = AB + BCin + ACin

(K-MAP for Carry-Output) (K-MAP for Sum)

 Circuit Diagram

4 Bit Parallel Adder / 4-Bit Binary Adder

In the block diagram, A0 and B0 represent the LSB of the four bit words A and B. Hence Full Adder-0 is
the lowest stage. Hence its Cin has been permanently made 0. The rest of the connections are exactly
same as those of n-bit parallel adder.

Block diagram

Binary Adder

 A binary adder is a digital circuit that produces the arithmetic sum of two binary numbers. It can
be constructed with full adder connected in cascade, the output carry from each full adder
connected to the input carry of the next full adder in the chain.

 The interconnection of four full adder (FA) circuits to provide a 4-bit binary ripple carry adder.
The augends bits of A and addend bits of B are designated by subscript numbers from right to
left, with subscript 0 denoting the least significant bit.
 The carries are connected in the chain through the full adders. The input carry to the adder is C0
and it ripples through the full adder to the output carry C4.

 The S output generate the required sum bits. An n-bit adder requires n full adders with each
output connected to the input carry of the next higher order full adder.

fig: 4-bit adder

 The carries are connected in a chain through the full adders. The input carry to the binary adder
is C0 and the output carry is C4. The S output of the full adders generate the required sum bits.
Subtractors
Subtractor is an electronic logic circuit for calculating the difference between two binary numbers, the
minuend and the number to be subtracted, the subtrahend.

Types-
1) Half Subtractor
2) Full Subtractor

Half Subtractors
Half Subtractor is a combination circuit with two inputs(minuend and subtrahend) and two
outputs (difference and borrow).

It produces the difference between the two binary bits at the input and also produces an output
(Borrow) to indicate if a 1 has been borrowed. In the subtraction (A-B), A is called as Minuend bit
and B is called as Subtrahend bit.

Block Diagram Truth Table

Circuit Diagram
Full Subtractors
Full subtractor is a combinational circuit capable of performing subtraction on two bits namely
minuend and subtrahend. It accepts three inputs: minuend, subtrahend and a borrow bit. It
produces two outputs: difference and borrow.

The full subtractor is a combinational circuit with three inputs A,B,C and two output D(A-B-C) and
C'. A is the 'minuend', B is 'subtrahend', C is the 'borrow' produced by the previous stage, D(A-B-C)
is the difference output and C' is the borrow output.

Truth Table Block Diagram

B0= ABin + AB+BBin

(Difference) (Borrow)
 4-Bit Adder-Subtractor

OR
Implement a full subtractor circuit with a decoder and two OR gates.

fig. 4-bit Adder-Subtractor

 The addition and subtraction operations can be combined into one circuit with one common binary
adder. This is done by including an EX-OR gate with each full adder.

 The mode input M controls the operation.

 When M = 0, the circuit is an adder, and when M = 1, the circuit becomes a subtractor. Each EX-OR
gate receives input M and one of the inputs of B.

 When M = 0, we have B (Ex-OR) 0 = B. the full adder receive the value of B, the input carry is 0, and
the circuit performs A plus B.

 When M = 1, we have B (Ex-OR) = B’ and Cin = 1.

1 ⊕B = B’ and 0 ⊕B = B

 The B inputs are complemented and a 1 is added through the input carry. The circuit performs the
operation A plus the ’s complement of B i.e. (A-B)

 The subtraction A - B can be performed by taking the ’ s complement of B and adding it to

A as A- B = A + (-B)