Sequential logic

Sequential logic

In digital circuit theory, sequential logic is a type of logic circuit whose output depends not only on the present input but also on the history of the input. This is in contrast to combinational logic, whose output is a function of, and only of, the present input. In other words, sequential logic has storage (memory) while combinational logic does not.

Sequential logic is therefore used to construct some types of computer memory, other types of delay and storage elements, and finite state machines. Most practical computer circuits are a mixture of combinational and sequential logic.

There are two types of finite state machine that can be built from sequential logic circuits:

·        Moore machine: the output depends only on the internal state. (Since the internal state only changes on a clock edge, the output only changes on a clock edge too).

·        Mealy machine: the output depends not only on the internal state, but also on the inputs.

Depending on regulations of functioning, digital circuits are divided into synchronous and asynchronous. In accordance with this, behavior of devices obeys synchronous or asynchronous logic.

Synchronous sequential logic

Nearly all sequential logic today is 'clocked' or 'synchronous' logic: there is a 'clock' signal, and all internal memory (the 'internal state') changes only on a clock edge. The basic storage element in sequential logic is the flip-flop.

The main advantage of synchronous logic is its simplicity. Every operation in the circuit must be completed inside a fixed interval of time between two clock pulses, called a 'clock cycle'. As long as this condition is met (ignoring certain other details), the circuit is guaranteed to be reliable. Synchronous logic also has two main disadvantages, as follows.

1.        The clock signal must be distributed to every flip-flop in the circuit. As the clock is usually a high-frequency signal, this distribution consumes a relatively large amount of power and dissipates much heat. Even the flip-flops that are doing nothing consume a small amount of power, thereby generating waste heat in the chip.

2.        The maximum possible clock rate is determined by the slowest logic path in the circuit, otherwise known as the critical path. This means that every logical calculation, from the simplest to the most complex, must complete in one clock cycle. One way around this limitation is to split complex operations into several simple operations, a technique known as 'pipelining'. This technique is prominent within microprocessor design, and helps to improve the performance of modern processors.

Asynchronous sequential logic

Asynchronous sequential logic expresses memorizing effect by fixing moments of time, when digital device changes its state. These moments are represented not in explicit form, but taking into account principle ―before/after‖ in temporal relations of logical values. For asynchronous logic it is sufficient to determine a sequence of switchings irrespective of any connections of the corresponding moments with real or virtual time. Theoretical apparatus of sequential logic consists of mathematical instruments of sequention and venjunction as well as of logic-algebraic equations on their basis.

Sequention

Venjunction

Realization