00.02.

51 - 090

Process control

Electro/Digital
Memory circuits
Combinatory circuits are characterised by the fact that the state of the output
depends solely on the state of the inputs at a given moment. In many control
circuits, it is important that a previous input state is remembered.
This lesson focuses on memory circuits. We will pay special attention to the SR
flip-flop circuit and provide a detailed explanation of the time-sequence
diagram.

Contents of the lesson

1

Sequential circuits

Flip-flop circuits

Time-sequence diagram

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Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

Lesson
1. Sequential circuits
- combinatory
circuits

- previous input
state

The logic circuits discussed so far are also referred to as combinatory circuits.
These circuits are characterised by the fact that the state of the output depends
solely on the state of the inputs at a given moment. A given input combination
will always produce the same output combination. In many control circuits, it is
important that a previous input state is remembered. The hold circuit and
start/stop circuit discussed in previous lessons are good examples of this.
Figure 1 represents the start/stop circuit discussed earlier.

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Figure 1
Start/stop circuit

Referring to the above circuit, we will examine the following combinations. Let
A and B be non-excited and therefore equal to zero. The output signal will then
also be equal to zero because the feedback to the OR gate is still equal to zero.
Then we temporarily excite switch A so that the signal emitted is equal to one
for a brief period. The signal subsequently returns to its initial state.

- memory circuits
- sequential circuits

- previous input
state

The output signal Y will now be equal to one. When we compare the latter state
(B = 0, A = 0 (but was equal to one temporarily), and Y = 1) with the initial state
(B = 0, A = 0, and Y = 0), we notice that two identical input combinations (B = 0
and A = 0) produce different output signals.
Circuits exhibiting this type of behaviour are sometimes called sequential
circuits or memory circuits. The most important characteristic of memory
circuits is that the output of the circuit is fed back to one of the inputs. The
feedback is such that a previous input state is remembered.
As the previous input state contributes to the output signal, it has to be included
in the truth table.

Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

Referring to the previous input state as Yp and to the instantaneous output signal
as Y, the following truth table is obtained:
Table 1
Truth table of start/stop circuit
A
B
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
1
1

Yp
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1

Y
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0

Question 1
Give two examples of simple memory circuits.

2. Flip-flop circuits
- flip-flops

In digital electronics, the most basic circuits with a memory function are called
flip-flops. A flip-flop can be constructed from gate circuits in various ways. The
gate circuit most frequently used in flip-flops is the circuit represented in figure
1. A number of positions in this circuit have been numbered. We will examine
the situation in which points 2, 4, and 7 are equal to zero.
Table 2
Functioning of SR flip-flop circuit
Point
1
2
3
Value
0
0
0

4
0

5
0

6
1

7
0

- set
- set input

If point 2 becomes equal to one for a brief period, points 3 and 5 will also
become equal to one for the duration of the pulse. As point 4 is still equal to zero
and point 6 is therefore equal to one - the resulting value for point 7 will be one.
This output value is fed back to the OR gate. The OR gate will then carry the
value of one on input 1. From that moment, the output will not be affected when
point 2 returns to zero. In a sense, the flip-flop remembers that point 2 has been
equal to one. The resulting situation is referred to as follows: the flip-flop has
been set. Input A is therefore also referred to as the set input of the flip-flop.

- reset
- reset input

If point 4 is temporarily made equal to one by a pulse, point 6 - and

consequently the output of the AND gate - becomes equal to zero. This output
signal is fed back to point 1. The inputs of the OR gate now carry two zeros, so
that point 3 also becomes equal to zero. Both inputs of the AND gate will now
be equal to zero. From this moment, the input signal at point 4 can again change
without the output signal of the circuit being affected (point 7). We refer to this
situation as follows: the flip-flop has been reset. Input B is called the reset input
of the flip-flop.

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- set-reset (SR) flipflop

The flip-flop circuit described here will react to the S (set) and R (reset) inputs
and is called the set-reset (SR) flip-flop. The symbol for the SR flip-flop is
shown in figure 2.

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Figure 2
Symbol of SR flip-flop

The symbol shows a Q output as well as a Q output. The Q output represents

the inverted value of the Q output.
As mentioned above, there are different ways of constructing a flip-flop from
gate circuits, two of which we now will examine in figure 3.

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Figure 3
Flip-flop circuits

We can draw up truth tables for each of the circuits shown in figure 3. The result
is shown in the following tables.
Table 3
Truth table of flip-flop circuits
S
R
Q
Q

0
0
1
1

0
0
1
1

0
1
0
1

0
0
1
0

1
1
0
0

0
1
0
1

1
0
1
1

Set dominant

- set dominant

- reset dominant

0
1
0
1

Reset dominant

If S = 0 and R = 0, the flip-flop will remain set or reset. If S = 1 or R = 1, the

flip-flop will be set or reset. Only when S = 1 and R = 1, differences will arise
between the two truth tables. In the circuit using AND gates, the flip-flop is set.
In this circuit, the set signal dominates the reset signal. This situation is
described by the statement that the flip-flop is set dominant.
By contrast, in the flip-flop circuit based on OR gates, the flip-flop is reset.
Here, the reset signal dominates and this flip-flop is called a reset-dominant flipflop.
4

Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

Note that in the truth tables above, Q is not always the inverse of Q . For the
- forbidden
combination

input combination S = 1 and R = 1, for instance, both Q and Q are equal to one.
This state should never occur in practice, and is therefore called the forbidden
combination. For the set- and reset-dominant SR flip-flops, we can now draw up
the circuit formulas based on the logic circuits.
For the set dominant SR flip-flop, consider the circuit with two AND gates. We
can deduce the following:
Q = Q*R*S =
Q = ( Q + R )* S =

Q = ( Q + R) + S =
Q = ( Q* R ) + S =
Q = (Q* R ) + S

For the reset-dominant SR flip-flop, consider the circuit with two OR gates. We
can deduce the following:

Q = (Q + S) + R =
Q = ( Q + S )* R =
Q = (Q + S)* R

Question 2
Give two different types of flip-flop circuits.
Question 3
Explain the difference between a set-dominant and a reset-dominant flip-flop
circuit, using a truth table.
Question 4
Give the circuit formulas for the set-dominant flip-flop circuit and the resetdominant flip-flop circuit.

Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

3. Time-sequence diagram
- time-sequence
diagrams

To facilitate studying the behaviour of flip-flop circuits, and also of combinatory

circuits, time-sequence diagrams are frequently used. In a time-sequence
diagram, the logic signals of inputs and outputs are plotted as a function of time.
The digital-simulation program allows us to study the variation of input and
output signals using time-sequence diagrams. We will use the following
example to explain this method.

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Figure 4
Time-sequence diagram of example circuit

The drawing represented in figure 4 shows the pulse-shaped signals used to

actuate the S and R inputs of a SR flip-flop. In addition, output Q of the SR flipflop is shown in such a way that the relationship between it and the S and R
pulses is made clear. At time t = 1, the following applies: S = 1 and R = 0. This
input combination resets the output signal Q to the value of one until time t = 5.
At t = 8, the SR flip-flop is again reset, to time t = 10. Note that this offers a very
convenient way of studying the behaviour of the SR flip-flop.
Question 5
What is meant by a forbidden combination, in connection with flip-flop circuits?

Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

Summary
Combinatory circuits are characterised by the fact that the state of the output
depends solely on the state of the inputs at a given moment.
In sequential or memory circuits, the previous input state is retained. The most
important characteristic of memory circuits is that the output of the circuit is fed
back to one of the inputs.
In digital electronics, the most basic circuits with a memory function are called
flip-flops. One flip-flop circuit design used frequently reacts to the S (set) and R
(reset) inputs and is called the set-reset (SR) flip-flop. The symbol for the SR
flip-flop is shown in figure 2.
In addition to the SR flip-flop, there are several other flip-flop circuit designs.
The circuit using AND gates dominates the set signal; this flip-flop is set
dominant. The circuit formula for a set-dominant flip-flop circuit runs as
follows:
Q = Q* R* S =
Q = ( Q + R )* S =

Q = ( Q + R) + S =
Q = ( Q* R ) + S =
Q = (Q* R ) + S

In the flip-flop circuit based on OR gates, the reset signal dominates and this
flip-flop is called a reset-dominant flip-flop. The circuit formula for a resetdominant flip-flop circuit runs as follows:

Q = (Q + S) + R =
Q = ( Q + S )* R =
Q = (Q + S)* R

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A flip-flop circuit has a Q output as well as a Q output. The Q output is the

inverse of the Q output. In practice, we notice that Q is not always the inverse of
Q . This situation should never occur in practice, and is therefore called the
forbidden combination.

In a time-sequence diagram, the logic signals of inputs and outputs are plotted as
a function of time. Time-sequence diagrams offer a convenient way of studying
circuits.

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Test
Exercises
Do not send in your answers for correction
1.

What do we mean by combinatory circuits?

2.

Think of a practical example using an SR flip-flop.

3.

What do we mean by sequential circuits?

4.

Derive a simplified circuit formula for the set-dominant flip-flop circuit.

5.

Give two different types of flip-flop circuits.

6.

Derive a simplified circuit formula for the reset-dominant flip-flop circuit.

Answers to the questions in the lesson

1.

The hold circuit and start/stop circuit discussed in previous lessons are good
examples of memory circuits.

2.

There are different ways of constructing a flip-flop circuit. The most

important flip-flop circuits are:
- set-dominant flip-flop circuit;
- reset-dominant flip-flop circuit.

3.

See table below.

Table 4
Truth table of flip-flop circuits
S
R
Q
Q
0
0
1
1

0
1
0
1

1
0
1
1

Set dominant

0
1
0
1

0
0
1
1

0
1
0
1

0
0
1
0

1
1
0
0

Reset dominant

Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

4.

A circuit using AND gates dominates the set signal; this type of flip-flop is
set dominant. The circuit formula for a set-dominant flip-flop circuit runs as
follows:
Q = Q* R* S =
Q = ( Q + R )* S =

Q = ( Q + R) + S =
Q = ( Q* R ) + S =
Q = (Q* R ) + S

In the flip-flop circuit based on OR gates, the reset signal dominates and
this flip-flop is called a reset-dominant flip-flop. The circuit formula for a
reset-dominant flip-flop circuit runs as follows:

Q = (Q + S) + R =
Q = ( Q + S )* R =
Q = (Q + S)* R

5.

A flip-flop circuit has a Q output as well as a Q output. The Q output is

the inverse of the Q output. In practice, we notice that Q is not always the
inverse of Q. This situation should never occur in practice, and is therefore
called the forbidden combination. S and R must never be equal to one
simultaneously.

Answers to the exercises

1.

Combinatory circuits are characterised by the fact that the state of the output
depends solely on the state of the inputs at a given moment.

2.

Examples of the use of SR flip-flops include:

- monitoring of the ignition conditions of a furnace;
- protection of the start conditions of a compressor;
- protection of the start conditions of a reactor.

3.

In sequential circuits or memory circuits, the previous input state is

retained. The most important characteristic of memory circuits is that the
output of the circuit is fed back to one of the inputs.

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Process control / 00.02.51 - 090

4.

For the circuit formula of the set-dominant SR flip-flop, the following

applies:
Q = Q* R* S =
Q = ( Q + R )* S =

Q = ( Q + R) + S =
Q = ( Q* R ) + S =
Q = (Q* R ) + S

5.

There are different ways of constructing a flip-flop circuit. The most

important flip-flop circuits are:
- set-dominant flip-flop circuit;
- reset-dominant flip-flop circuit.

6. For the circuit formula of the reset-dominant SR flip-flop, the following

applies:

Q = (Q + S) + R =
Q = ( Q + S )* R =
Q = (Q + S)* R

11