Basics and Overview of Flip Flops

The term flip-flop (FF) was invented in the year 1918 by the British physicist F.W Jordan and
William Eccles. It was named as the Eccles Jordan trigger circuit and includes two active
elements. The design of the FF was used in British Colossus code breaking computer the year
1943. The transistorized versions of these circuits were common in computers, even after the
overview of integrated circuits, though FFs made from logic gates are also common now. The
first flip-flop circuit were known differently as multi vibrators or trigger circuits.
A flip flop is an electronic circuit with two stable states that can be used to store binary data.
The stored data can be changed by applying varying inputs.
Flip-flops and latches are fundamental building blocks of digital electronics systems used in
computers, communications, and many other types of systems. Flip-flops and latches are used
as data storage elements. It is the basic storage element in sequential logic. But first, let’s clarify
the difference between a latch and a flip-flop.

Flip flop v/s Latch

The basic difference between a latch and a flip-flop is a gating or clocking mechanism.

For example, let us talk about SR latch and SR flip-flops. In this circuit when you Set S as active the
output Q would be high and Q’ will be low. This is irrespective of anything else. (This is an active low
circuit so active here means low, but for an active high circuit active would mean high)

THIS IS A LATCH THIS IS A FLIPFLOP

A flip flop, on the other hand, is synchronous and is also known as gated or clocked SR latch. In this
circuit, the output is changed (i.e. the stored data is changed) only when you give an active clock signal.
Otherwise, even if the S or R is active the data will not change. Let’s look at the types of flip-flops to
understand better.
SR Flip Flop

There are majorly 4 types of flip flops, with the most common one being SR flip flop. As shown above, it
is the simplest and the easiest to understand. The two outputs as shown above are the inverse of each
other. The outputs of an SR flip flop are highlighted in the table below.

S R Q Q’

0 0 0 1

0 1 0 1

1 0 1 0

1 1 ∞ ∞ - UNDEFINED

JK Flip-flop

Due to the undefined state in the SR flip flop, another is required in electronics. The JK flip flop is a
improvement on the SR flip flop where S=R=1 is not a problem.

The input condition of J=K=1, gives an output inverting

the output state. However, the outputs are same when
one tests the circuit practically.

Truth table

J K Q Q’
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
1 0 0 1
1 1 0 1
0 0 1 1
0 1 1 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 1 0

D Flip Flop

D flip flop is a better alternative that is very popular with digital electronics. They are commonly used for
counters and shift-registers and input synchronisation.

In a D flip flop, the output can be only changed at the clock

edge, and if the input changes at other times, the output will be
unaffected.

Clock D Q Q’
↓»0 0 0 1
↑»1 0 0 1
↓»0 1 0 1
↑»1 1 1 0

The change of state of the output is dependent on the rising edge of the clock. The output (Q) is same as
the input and can only change at the rising edge of the clock.

T Flip Flop

A T flip flop is like JK flip-flop. These are basically single input version of JK flip flop. This modified form of
JK flip-flop is obtained by connecting both inputs J and K together. This flip-flop has only one input along
with the clock input.

These flip-flops are called T flip-flops because of their

ability to complement its state (i.e.) Toggle, hence the
name Toggle flip-flop.

T Q Q (t+1)
0 0 0
1 1 1
0 1 1
1 1 0
 There are diverse changes for every type of latches and flip-flops to enhance the operation.
Latches Flip-Flops
The working manner of a latch is asynchronous which means, An FF (flip-flop) can be built with a NOR gate or NAND gate.
the output produced from the latch will depend on the input. Therefore, an FF consists of 2-inputs, 2-outputs, a set & also a
Nowadays, most of the personal computers are reset. This kind of FF is named like SR-FF. These are mainly
synchronous. The sequential circuits which are used in PC used to store the binary data. An FF will have an extra CLK
are competent of modifying concurrently by a global CLK signal to make it work in a different way when contrasted
signal. with a latch.

A latch doesn’t contain any clock signal A flip-flop contains a clock signal
The latches are classified into different types such as D-type The FFs are classified into different types such as D-type (data
(data /delay), SR-type (set-reset), T-type (toggle) and JK-type. /delay), SR-type (set-reset), T-type (toggle) and JK-type. .

In electronic devices, a latch is a type of bi-stable Nowadays, easy transparent storage elements and little more
multivibrator, and it has 2-stable states used to store one bit superior nontransparent devices are used as flip-flops.
of data.
The structure of Latche is built with logic gates
FFs are designed with latches by adding an extra clock signal.
The FF is also responsive toward the CLK signal; moreover,
A latch is responsive toward the input switch and also the o/p will not vary until a modify takes place within the
competent in transmitting information as extended when the input CLK signal.
switch is ON.
Latches are very fast
Flip-Flops (FFs) are very slow
FFs are protected toward faults
Latches are responsive toward faults on enable pin

Latches consume less power

A flip-flop can be clocked for all time FFs consume more power
A Latch may be clockless or clocked

Generally, a transparent latch considers a D-Q propagation
delay
Easy transparent one is frequently referred to as latches.
A flip-flop considers CLK to Q, setup & hold time are essential.
At present, generally, the flip-flop has approached to indicate
non-transparent devices which include edge triggered or
clocked

The latch is level sensitive that is, the o/p captures the i/p
Usually, an FF can be used to control one (or) several control whenever the signal of the CLK is high, thus as long as the CLK
signals & a gate signal otherwise clock signal. is high, then the o/p can vary if the i/p also changes/

FFs work by binary inputs & the CLK signal.

The working of the Latches can be done by only binary inputs
Latches are not capable of working as a register because of
the lack of a CLK signal. FFs are capable because they come by a CLK
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