xxii
Preface
as guidelines for using logic devices of different families. Boolean algebra and its various postulates
and theorems and minimization techniques, providing exhaustive coverage of both Karnaugh mapping
and Quine-McCluskey techniques, are discussed in chapter six. The discussion includes application of
these minimization techniques for multi-output Boolean functions and Boolean functions with larger
number of variables. The concepts underlying different fundamental topics of digital electronics and
discussed in first six chapters have been amply illustrated with solved examples.
As a follow-up to logic gates – the most basic building block of combinational logic – chapters
7 and 8 are devoted to more complex combinational logic circuits. While chapter seven covers
arithmetic circuits, including different types of adders and subtractors, such as half and full adder and
subtractor, adder-subtractor, larger bit adders and subtractors, multipliers, look ahead carry generator,
magnitude comparator, and arithmetic logic unit, chapter eight covers multiplexers, de-multiplexers,
encoders and decoders. This is followed by a detailed account of programmable logic devices in
chapter nine. Simple programmable logic devices (SPLDs) such as PAL, PLA, GAL and HAL devices,
complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been
exhaustively treated in terms of their architecture, features and applications. Popular devices, from
various international manufacturers, in the three above-mentioned categories of programmable logic
devices are also covered with regard to their architecture, features and facilities.
The next two chapters, 10 and 11, cover the sequential logic circuits. Discussion begins with the
most fundamental building block of sequential logic, that is, flip flop. Different types of flip flops
are covered in detail with regard to their operational fundamentals, different varieties in each of
the categories of flip flops and their applications. Multivibrator circuits, being operationally similar
to flip flops, are also covered at length in this chapter. Counters and registers are the other very
important building blocks of sequential logic with enormous application potential. These are covered
in chapter 11. Particular emphasis is given to timing requirements and design of counters with varying
count sequence requirements. The chapter also includes a detailed description of the design principles
of counters with arbitrary count sequences. Different types of shift registers and some special counters
that have evolved out of shift registers have been covered in detail.
Chapter 12 covers data conversion circuits including digital-to-analogue and analogue-to-digital
converters. Topics covered in this chapter include operational basics, characteristic parameters, types
and applications. Emphasis is given to definition and interpretation of the terminology and the
performance parameters that characterize these devices. Different types of digital-to-analogue and
analogue-to-digital converters, together with their merits and drawbacks are also addressed. Particular
attention is given to their applications. Towards the end of the chapter, application oriented information
in the form of popular type numbers along with their major performance specifications, pin connection
diagrams etc. is presented. Another highlight of the chapter is the inclusion of detailed descriptions of
newer types of converters, such as quad slope and sigma-delta types of analogue-to-digital converters.
Chapters 13 and 14 discuss microprocessors and microcontrollers – the two versatile devices that
have revolutionized the application potential of digital devices and integrated circuits. The entire
range of microprocessors and microcontrollers along with their salient features, operational aspects
and application guidelines are covered in detail. As a natural follow-up to these, microcomputer
fundamentals, with regard to their architecture, input/output devices and memory devices, are discussed
in chapter 15.
The last chapter covers digital troubleshooting techniques and digital instrumentation.
Troubleshooting guidelines for various categories of digital electronics circuits are discussed. These will
particularly benefit practising engineers and electronics enthusiasts. The concepts are illustrated with
the help of a large number of troubleshooting case studies pertaining to combinational, sequential and
memory devices. A wide range of digital instruments is covered after a discussion on troubleshooting
guidelines. The instruments covered include digital multimeters, digital oscilloscopes, logic probes,
Preface
as guidelines for using logic devices of different families. Boolean algebra and its various postulates
and theorems and minimization techniques, providing exhaustive coverage of both Karnaugh mapping
and Quine-McCluskey techniques, are discussed in chapter six. The discussion includes application of
these minimization techniques for multi-output Boolean functions and Boolean functions with larger
number of variables. The concepts underlying different fundamental topics of digital electronics and
discussed in first six chapters have been amply illustrated with solved examples.
As a follow-up to logic gates – the most basic building block of combinational logic – chapters
7 and 8 are devoted to more complex combinational logic circuits. While chapter seven covers
arithmetic circuits, including different types of adders and subtractors, such as half and full adder and
subtractor, adder-subtractor, larger bit adders and subtractors, multipliers, look ahead carry generator,
magnitude comparator, and arithmetic logic unit, chapter eight covers multiplexers, de-multiplexers,
encoders and decoders. This is followed by a detailed account of programmable logic devices in
chapter nine. Simple programmable logic devices (SPLDs) such as PAL, PLA, GAL and HAL devices,
complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been
exhaustively treated in terms of their architecture, features and applications. Popular devices, from
various international manufacturers, in the three above-mentioned categories of programmable logic
devices are also covered with regard to their architecture, features and facilities.
The next two chapters, 10 and 11, cover the sequential logic circuits. Discussion begins with the
most fundamental building block of sequential logic, that is, flip flop. Different types of flip flops
are covered in detail with regard to their operational fundamentals, different varieties in each of
the categories of flip flops and their applications. Multivibrator circuits, being operationally similar
to flip flops, are also covered at length in this chapter. Counters and registers are the other very
important building blocks of sequential logic with enormous application potential. These are covered
in chapter 11. Particular emphasis is given to timing requirements and design of counters with varying
count sequence requirements. The chapter also includes a detailed description of the design principles
of counters with arbitrary count sequences. Different types of shift registers and some special counters
that have evolved out of shift registers have been covered in detail.
Chapter 12 covers data conversion circuits including digital-to-analogue and analogue-to-digital
converters. Topics covered in this chapter include operational basics, characteristic parameters, types
and applications. Emphasis is given to definition and interpretation of the terminology and the
performance parameters that characterize these devices. Different types of digital-to-analogue and
analogue-to-digital converters, together with their merits and drawbacks are also addressed. Particular
attention is given to their applications. Towards the end of the chapter, application oriented information
in the form of popular type numbers along with their major performance specifications, pin connection
diagrams etc. is presented. Another highlight of the chapter is the inclusion of detailed descriptions of
newer types of converters, such as quad slope and sigma-delta types of analogue-to-digital converters.
Chapters 13 and 14 discuss microprocessors and microcontrollers – the two versatile devices that
have revolutionized the application potential of digital devices and integrated circuits. The entire
range of microprocessors and microcontrollers along with their salient features, operational aspects
and application guidelines are covered in detail. As a natural follow-up to these, microcomputer
fundamentals, with regard to their architecture, input/output devices and memory devices, are discussed
in chapter 15.
The last chapter covers digital troubleshooting techniques and digital instrumentation.
Troubleshooting guidelines for various categories of digital electronics circuits are discussed. These will
particularly benefit practising engineers and electronics enthusiasts. The concepts are illustrated with
the help of a large number of troubleshooting case studies pertaining to combinational, sequential and
memory devices. A wide range of digital instruments is covered after a discussion on troubleshooting
guidelines. The instruments covered include digital multimeters, digital oscilloscopes, logic probes,