Sequential circuits

  • D. Lewin
  • D. Protheroe

Abstract

The circuits considered so far have been combinational, that is, circuits in which the steady-state output is a function of the present inputs only. However, in most practical systems we must consider another, more general, type of circuit, where the output is a function of both present and past inputs. These circuits, called sequential circuits (also known as state machines or finite-state machines) are contained in most digital systems as counters, registers, memories, etc. A familiar example of sequential behaviour is provided by the telephone system, where a call must be made by entering the correct numbers in the correct sequence. A sequential circuit is modelled as a combinational circuit with the additional properties of memory or storage (to ‘remember’ previous inputs) and feedback so that previous inputs can affect future outputs. A general diagram representing a sequential circuit is shown in Fig. 6.1.

Keywords

State Diagram Truth Table State Table Linear Feedback Shift Register Clock Pulse 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Copyright information

© D. Lewin and D. Protheroe 1992

Authors and Affiliations

  • D. Lewin
    • 1
  • D. Protheroe
    • 2
  1. 1.University of SheffieldUK
  2. 2.South Bank UniversityLondonUK

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