Experiment 8

Asynchronous Counter

Name: ___________________________________ Section: _______________

Professor: ________________________________ Date: _________________

DURATIONS: 3 Hours

OBJECTIVES:

 To familiarize the students with the nature of operation of ripple counters.

 To construct an asynchronous Up-down counter.

BACKGROUND:

The simplest counter and one of the simplest sequential circuits is the
Asynchronous counter also known as the ripple counter. A counter is a device that cycle
through a sequence of states, often consisting of a sequential set of non-negative
integers. A counter has a clock input. Each time the counter is clocked its state changes
to the next state in the sequence. The word “Asynchronous” means not happening or
existing at precisely the same time. In digital logic, Asynchronous means “without a
synchronizing clock”. In an asynchronous counter only the LSB is connected to the
external clock. Each bit in the counter clocks the bit to its left causing a ripple effect when
the clock changes states.

The ripple counter is the simplest counter you can build out of JK Flip-flops. All flip-
flops are put in toggle mode. The first one is actuated by the clock signal so its output will
change every second transition. This output is then fed into the next flip-flop so its output
changes every fourth clock edge. Therefore, the output of the first flip-flop is the lowest
bit of the binary count, the second is the second bit and so forth. The only problem with
this kind of counter is the delay from the input of one flip-flop to the next one which
accumulates as the number of bits increase.

Counters may be designed to count up, down or both. The bits of ripple counter
consist of toggle FFs, sometimes just wired together and sometimes connected with logic

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gates. The 2-bit ripple counter circuit has four different states, each one corresponding to
a count value. Similarly, a counter with n flip-flops can have 2 to the power n states. The
number of states in a counter is known as its mod (modulo) number. Thus a 2-bit counter
is a mod-4 counter.

MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT:

7476 Dual JK Flip-Flop IC - 2 pieces

7400 NAND Gate IC - 1 piece
74266 - 1 piece
Resistor (1/4W) 360 Ohm - 1 piece
Breadboard - 1 piece
Power Supply - 1 set
Oscilloscope - 1 set
Connecting Wires

PROCEDURE:

Part 1: 2-bit Asynchronous Counter

a. Take note the pin configurations of 7476 Dual JK Flip-flop IC using specification sheet
from the manufacturer.

b. Construct the 2-bit Asynchronous Counter as shown in Figure 7.1. Supply pin 5 and
pin 13 of 7476 IC with +5V and ground, respectively.

XSC1
V CC
5V Tektronix

P 1 2 3 4 T
G

Function Generator Q0
Oscilloscope
2 U 1A 7 U 1B
~1PR ~2PR
4 15 9 11
Q1
XFG1 Clock 1J 1Q 2J 2Q
1 1CLK 6 2CLK
16 1K ~1Q 14 12 2K ~2Q 10

~1CLR ~2CLR
3 7476N 8 7476N

Figure 7.1: 2-Bit Asynchronous counter

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c. Turn ON the function generator and set its parameter to:

Frequency: 10 KHz Amplitude: 5Vpp

Signal : Square Wave Duty Ratio: 50%

Note: Use an oscilloscope to measure the waveform.

d. Connect the function generator probe to the pin 1 (CLK) of 7476 IC. Make sure your
circuit has common ground.

e. Using oscilloscope measure the waveform from function generator, and the output
waveforms from Q0, and Q1 terminals of 7476 IC. Draw the waveforms in the space
provided below.

CLK

Q0

Q1

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 Part 2: 3-bit Asynchronous Counter

a. Construct the 3-bit Asynchronous Counter as shown in Figure 7.2. Supply pin 5 and pin
13 of 7476 ICs with +5V and ground, respectively.

V CC
5V

Q0

Function Generator Q1
2 U 1A 7 U 1B 2 U 2A
~1PR ~2PR ~1PR

XFG1 Clock
4 1J 1Q 15 9 2J 2Q 11 4 1J 1Q 15
Q2
1 1CLK 6 2CLK 1 1CLK
16 1K ~1Q 14 12 2K ~2Q 10 16 1K ~1Q 14

~1CLR ~2CLR ~1CLR

3 7476N 8 7476N 3 7476N

Figure 7.2: 3-bit Asynchronous Counter

b. Repeat procedure c and d of Part 1.

c. Using oscilloscope measure the waveform from function generator, and the output
waveforms from Q0, Q1, and Q2 terminals from two 7476 ICs. Draw the waveforms in the
space provided below.

CLK

Q0

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 Q1

Q2

CONCLUSION:

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REFERENCES:

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