Ms sandhya Rani Dash UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS

Structure 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Introduction Objectives Signal and its Types Electronic Circuits and System Use of Digital Systems 1.5.1 Advantages of digital system 1.5.2 Limitations of digital system 1.6 Design of Digital System 1.6.1 System design 1.6.2 Logic design 1.6.3 Circuit design 1.6.4 Digital Computer 1.7 Multibit Representation of Signals 1.8 Unit Summary

1.1 Introduction Digital systems, in todays world, have great impact on the modern society. Many scientific, industrial, commercial advances have become possible due to the digital systems. Digital systems like computers, communication systems, digital voltmeters, counters have become an important part of our life. The operation of these systems based on the principle of digital techniques. In digital systems, the data is usually in binary states(0&1),which is processed and stored electrically to prevent errors due to noise and interfering signals , electronic amplifiers are used to amplify electrical signals .This types of signals are continuous signals and can have any value within a specified range, called analog signal. On the other hand the electrical signals which have two discrete values (0 or 1) or levels (low or high) are called the digital signals. This unit discus about the analog and digital signals, the advantages and limitations of analog and digital systems. The block diagram and functions of a digital computer is also explained here. Representation of signals by the binary bits is also introduced in this unit. Attempt has been taken to present the basic concepts used in design and development of digital systems with the introduction to the principles of digital computer as an example. Multi bit representation of signals, different number system and inter conversion of one system to another is explained for analysis and design of a digital system.

1.2 Objectives After going through this module you would be able to i) ii) iii) iv) Define digital systems and analog systems Appreciate the relevance of digital system over analog systems Explain the basic design of a digital system Understand the functioning of a digital system (digital computer)

1.3 Signal and its Types What is a Signal? Any thing that carries information is called a signal. It can also be defined as any physical quantity that varies with time, space or any other independent variable. For Example: The variation of temperature /atmospheric pressure of a location The motion of a particle with respect to space Types of Signal Signals are of two types. 1. Analog or Continuous valued signal 2. Digital or Discrete value signal Analog Signals Signal that continuously varies with time between two defined intervals is called Analog Signal. It represents some physical quantities which are analogues to the real quantity.In most of the times the variations correspondence to that of the original signal. For Example In a transistor radio receiver the receiver receives modulated signals which are analog in nature. These signals are processed by analog circuits and the output obtained is also in analog form An Analog signal can take on any value across a continuous range of voltage, current or other metric. It can have an infinite number of values.

Digital Signals The electrical signal which has two discrete levels/values is called a digital signal. It consists of number of pulses or digits with discrete levels or values which represents the magnitude of signal at an instant of time. The value of each pulse is constant. However, there is an abrupt change from one digit to the next. The two discrete value of a digital signal can be specified as one of two possibility such as 1 or 0/High or Low/True or False and so on 1.4 Electronic Circuits/Systems What is a System? A system is a physical device that performs an operation on signal For Example There are two types of electronic circuits/system 1. Analog circuit/system 2. digital circuit/system Analog Circuit/System An electronic circuit/system meant to process analog signals is called analog circuit/system. The voltage and current in an analog circuit/system vary continuously through a given range. Examples of Analog Devices are: An amplifier, A TV receiver, electric motors, Signal generators etc. Digital Circuits/Systems An electronic circuit/system meant to process digital signals is called analog circuit/system. Digital circuits have two discrete voltage levels. The voltage levels assume a finite number of distinct values. Examples of Digital Devices are: Calculators, Digital watch, Refrigerators, Washing machines etc. Digital circuits are invariably constructed with integrated circuits (IC). An IC is a small silicon semi conductor crystal called a chip which contains electric components such as transistors, diodes, registers, and capacitors

As the voltage levels in a digital circuit are switched from one value to another, therefore, the digital circuits are also called as switching circuits. Each digital circuit is governed by a set of logic rules, so digital circuits are also called as Logic circuits Characteristics of a Digital System Store, process and manipulation of discrete elements of information through the use of electric pulses which represents binary digits 0 and 1 1.6 Use of Digital Systems Digital systems are commonly used in different aspects such as; i) Computations and data processing; ii) control systems; iii) communications and measurements etc. 1.6.1 Advantages of digital system Why do we go for digital system? The followings are certain important advantages digital system over analog system Easy to design Easy to store information More versatile High accuracy and precision Less prone to noise Can be fabricated by IC chips Because of the above mentioned advantages there is wide spread use of digital system/techniques. 1.6.2 Limitations of digital system The major limitation of digital system is that The Real World Is Analog. Therefore, there is no digital signal in the real world. Most of the physical quantities are analog in nature. So we have to process and express these analog quantities digitally. That is to make a digital approximation to an analog quantity. Therefore, first the analog form is converted to digital form and then processed using digital techniques. The resultant is obtained in analog form for interpretation. Such conversions leads to increase the time of processing and therefore the system become more complex. However, the limitations are outweighed by number of advantages of digital techniques.

Self Check Exercise -1 Answer the following questions (Q. No. 1-10) selecting most appropriate alternatives given under each question.
No.1 Which one of the following systems is analog i) Electronic Calculator ii) Pressure gauge iii) Electric Switch iv) An electronic counter used to count persons entry on exhibition No.3 Integrated circuits are i) Analog ii) Digital iii) Both analog and digital iv) Mostly analog No.5 Digital circuits mostly used i) Diodes ii) Bipolar transistors iii) Diode and bipolar transistors iv) Bipolar Transistors and FETs No.7 Which of these devices have two states i) Lamp ii) Punched Card iii) Magnetic Tape iv) All of the above No.9 The devices commonly used for making digital circuits are i) Mechanical switched ii) Relays iii) Vacuum tubes iv) Semiconductor Devices No.2 Which one of the following systems is digital i) Thermometer ii) Transistor radio receiver iii) Signal generator iv) Refrigerator No.4 The rate of change of digital signal between high and low level is i) Very fast ii) Fast iii) Slow iv) Very Slow No.6 Logic status can only be ----- and 0 i) 3 ii) 2 iii) 1 iv) 0 No.8 The operation of a digital system can be performed by using i) Switched ii) Amplifiers iii) Rectifiers iv) Oscillators No.10 The binary electrical switch is ------------ device i) Analog ii) Digital iii) Both analog and digital iv) None of the above

Answer the following questions in 50-60 words 11. State the advantages of digital systems over the analog systems? What is the chief limitation to the use of digital techniques?

12. Why are digital circuits also called a) logic circuits, and b) switching circuits

1.7 Design of Digital System Let us first consider the following block diagram of a digital system
Analog In puts A D C D A C Analog Out puts

Digital System

As discussed in 1.5.2 we know that analog signal is a naturally occurring phenomenon in most of the real life situations. We have to convert the analog domains to digital domains for better interpretation Block diagram of a digital system is shown above where an analog interface is first fed to an analog to digital converter which converts the analog form into a digital form and then subjected to process, using digital techniques. The results of processing is again converted back to get an analog out put through a digital to analog converter for interpretation. Let us discuss the design of a digital system under different stages such as; i) system design; ii) logic design; and iii) circuit design. 1.7.1 System design A digital system comprised of many subsystems and each subsystem has specific characteristics. For Example: The system design of a digital computer is based on the - Number and types of memory unit - Arithmetic units - Input and output devices - Interconnection and control of these subsystems Let us look at the hierarchic of a digital system as presented below

System Design

Subsystems

Modules

Functional Blocks

Devices & Components

Circuits

Basic Units

Any digital system has the same hierarchy as explained above. 1.7.2 Logic design There are numbers of basic logic building blocks. Each block performs a particular function. The interconnection between basic logic blocks (to perform a specific function) is called Logic Design For Example -Determining the inter conversion of logic gates and flip flops -This is required to perform binary addition 1.7.3 Circuit design Interconnection of certain specific components such as resistors, diodes, capacitors, transistors etc. to form a gate, flip flop or any other building block is called Circuit Design 1.7.4 Digital Computer The general purpose digital computer is the best known example of a digital system. It is a system hardware that performs arithmetic operations, manipulates data and makes decision with greater speed and accuracy. the computer has to given a set of instructions called a program which guides it at each step of its operation .Program are placed in the computers memory unit

in binary coded form with each instruction having a unit code. The computer takes these instruction codes from memory and performs the operation. Functional units of a digital computer Though there are several types of computer system but each system has the same functional units. All the units function together to carry out the instructions as per the programme. Let us see the internal structure of a digital computer and their interconnections Arithmetic & Logic Unit

Input Unit

MEMORY UNIT

Output Unit

Control Unit Input device & control The programme and data prepared by the user are fed into the memory unit by means of input device. For example: Key board, magnetic tape, punch card reader etc The memory unit stores programmes, data received from the input units and also the results of arithmetic and logic operations received from the arithmetic and logic unit. It also supplies information to output device The control unit supervises the flow of information between the various units. It retrieves the instruction one by one from the programme. For each instruction the control unit informs the processor to execute the operation specified by the instruction logic All arithmetic calculations and logical decisions are performed in this unit. The processor manipulates the data as specified by the programme. The results of this unit is then sent to the memory to be stored there

Memory Unit

Control unit

Arithmetic unit

and

Output device

An output device receives the result of computations and prints out, displaces, or otherwise presents information to the user. For Example: Printer

1.8 Multibit Representation of Signal We know that a digital signal can have only two possible levels. i.e, High and Low/On and Off/true/False Each level can be presented by the binary digits 1 and 0. The binary number system can be used for the analysis and design of a digital system. The accuracy and precision of a digital system can be improved by increasing the number of levels. i.e., by adding more switches. For Example Let us consider two voltage levels 0 to 5 v. These two voltage levels can be represented by the binary digits 0 and 1 and the switch indicates off and on respectively. Binary 0 represents 0v (the switch is OFF) 1 represents 5v (the switch is ON) A signal of two levels (i.e. 0v & 5v) can be represented by a single switch If a given range of signal is divided into four levels (i.e. 0v, 1.25v, 2.5v, 3.75v & 5v), it can be represented by a combination of two switches For more accuracy the number of levels needs to be increased and therefore, depending upon the number of levels the signal can be represented by different number of switches. For Example The symbols and the respective switches for a four level signal can be represented as
SYMBOLS SWITCH 1 OFF OFF ON ON SWITCH OFF ON OFF ON

00 01 10 11

This is called the binary representation of numbers

Self Check Exercise-2 Answer the following questions (Q. No. 13-19) selecting most appropriate alternatives given under each question. No. 13 Numbers are stored transmitted inside a computer in i) ii) iii) iv) Binary form ASC II code form Decimal form Alphanumeric form and No. 14 Which part of the computer perform arithmetic calculations i) ii) iii) iv) ALU Register Logic Bus None of the above

No.15 Memories are used in the digital No.16 A train of pulse is a ------------signal system to store i) ii) iii) iv) Instructions Data Intermediate and final results All of the above
i) ii) iii) iv) Analog Digital Both analog and digital None of the above

No.17 How many levels are used to No.18 The high represent a digital signal? represents logic____ i) ii) iii) iv) Two Three Four Five i. ii. iii. iv.

voltage

level

0 1 Both 1&0 None of the above

No.19 The low voltage level represents No. 20 Registers are used in digital circuits for the logic_____ i. ii. iii. iv. 0 1 Both 1&0 None of theii) above
i) Storage of information ii) Transmission of information iii) Storage & Transmission of information iv) None of the above

Answer the following questions in 50-60 words 21. Name the five major functional units of a digital computer. 22. What are the two voltages normally used to represent binary digits 0& 1?

1.9 Unit summary This unit explains the basic concepts of analog and digital signals. The basic features of analog and digital systems, their advantages and limitations have been given briefly. The block diagram and functional unit s of a computer and representation of the signals with the binary bits (0&1) have also been clearly explained in this unit.

Answers to Self check Exercise 1) (ii) 2) (iv) 3) (iii) 4) (i) 5) (iii) 6) (iii) 7) (iv) 8) (i) 9) (iv) 10) (ii) 11.The advantages of digital systems over the analog systems are: Digital systems are more versatile, easier to design, less affected by noise, more accurate and precise than analog systems. The chief limitation to the use o fdigitaltechniquesisthat,realworldisntdigital,itis analog. 12. Digital circuit is called logic circuits, because each type of digital circuit obeys a certain set of logic rules. Digital circuit are called switching circuits, because the voltage level in a digital circuit are assumed to be switched from one value to another instantaneously.i.e the transition time is assumed to be zero. 13) (i) 14) (i) 15) (iv) 16) (ii) 17) (i) 18) (ii) 19) (i) 20) (i)

21. The five major functional units of a digital computer are: Input unit, memory unit, control unit, arithmetic & logic unit , output unit (all details are explained at section 1.7.4) 22. The two voltages normally used to represent binary digits 1& 0 are, HIGH & LOW. The binary digit 1 represents the HIGH voltage and the binary digit 0 represents the LOW voltage. The switching circuits, in which there are only two voltage levels, are easier to design.

References Hall, D. V. (1989) Digital Circuits and Systems; McGraw-Hill International Editions; Singapore Jain, R. P. (2007) Modern Digital Electronics; Third Edition; Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited; New Delhi Kumar, A. A. (2004) Fundamentals of Digital Circuits; Seventh Edition; Eastern Economy Editions; Prentice- Hall India Pvt. Ltd; New Delhi Mano, M. M. (2006) digital Logic and Computer Design; Second Edition; Eastern Economy Editions; Prentice- Hall India Pvt. Ltd; New Delhi Srinivasan, P. ( 2007) National Programme Technology Enhanced Learning Video Lectures on Introduction to Digital Circuits and System. Lecture I & II Unit End Exercise

1. What do you mean by the term signal? Distinguish between analog and digital signal with real life experiences. 2. Distinguish between analog and digital circuits. Explain with relevant examples of each. 3. Explain the design of a digital system. 4. Functional applicability of digital systems are more relevant in the real world. Explain with suitable example. 5. Illustrate various functions of digital logic.