Asynchronous Counters

Introduction
The term Asynchronous refers to events that do not occur at the
same time
With respect to counter operation, asynchronous means that the FlipFlops within the counter are not connected in a way to cause all
Flip-Flops states at exactly the same time
they are wired in a way that links the clock of the next flipflop to
the Q of the current device
this causes the output count states to ripple through the counter

2-Bit Asynchronous Counter

The clock input of an asynchronous counter is always
connected only to the LSB (Least Significant Bit) flip-flops.
Asynchronous Counter is a digital circuit in which flip-flops
(FF) within the counter do not change states at exactly the
same time because they do not have a common clock pulse.
Clock signal is applied to the clock input C of LSB flip-flop.
Asynchronous counters are also known as ripple counters

2-Bit Asynchronous Counter

Timing Diagram for a 2-Bit Asynchronous Counter

By applying 4 clock pulses to FF0 and observing Q output

of each FF, the changes in the state of the digital IC output
response can be validated.
Positive going edges of the CLK causes the QO outputs to
toggle, i.e, Hi to Lo.
The Timing Diagram is a graphical tool for observing the input
CLK events and the FFs corresponding output (states)
responses.

3-Bit Asynchronous Counter

Operation is the same as that of a 2-Bit Counter.
The counter has 8 states instead of 4.
An additional FF is wired to the dual FFs of a 2- Bit
Counter.
Just like a 2 Bit Counter a Timing Diagram is used to
analyze the counting sequence of the digital circuit.

3-Bit (MOD 8) Asynchronous Counter

Propagation Delay in Ripple Clocked Binary

Counters

4-Bit Counter State Table

4-Bit Asynchronous Counter

Operation is the same as that of a 2 & 3-Bit Counters.
The counter has 16 states instead of 4 & 8.
An additional FF is wired to the dual FFs of a 3- Bit
Counter.
Just like a 2 & 3 Bit Asynchronous Counters a Timing
Diagram is used to analyze the counting sequence of the
digital circuit.

MOD 10 Counter State Table

Asynchronous Decade (MOD 10) Counter

MOD 12 Asynchronous Counter