Multiplexer and De-

multiplexer
Group Members:
Nathaniel Dakin
Shondel Mitchell
Carl Williams
 What is a Multiplexer ?
• Multiplexing is the generic term used to describe the operation of sending one or more analogue or
digital signals over a common transmission line at different times or speeds and as such, the device
we use to do just that is called a Multiplexer.

• Multiplexer is a device that has multiple inputs and a single line output. The select lines determine
which input is connected to the output, and also to increase the amount of data that can be sent
over a network within certain time. It is also called a data selector.

• The single pole multi-position switch is a simple example of non-electronic circuit of multiplexer,
and it is widely used in many electronic circuits. The multiplexer is used to perform high-speed
switching and is constructed by electronic components.

• Multiplexers are capable of handling both analog and digital applications. In analog applications,
multiplexers are made up of relays and transistor switches, whereas in digital applications, the
multiplexers are built from standard logic gates. When the multiplexer is used for digital
applications, it is called a digital multiplexer.
 Basic Multiplexing Switch

• The rotary switch, also called a wafer switch as each layer of the switch is known as a wafer, is a
mechanical device whose input is selected by rotating a shaft. In other words, the rotary switch is a
manual switch that you can use to select individual data or signal lines simply by turning its inputs
“ON” or “OFF”. So how can we select each data input automatically using a digital device.

• In digital electronics, multiplexers are also known as data selectors because they can “select” each
input line, are constructed from individual Analogue Switches encased in a single IC package as
opposed to the “mechanical” type selectors such as normal conventional switches and relays.

• They are used as one method of reducing the number of logic gates required in a circuit design or when
a single data line or data bus is required to carry two or more different digital signals. For example, a
single 8-channel multiplexer.

• Generally, the selection of each input line in a multiplexer is controlled by an additional set of inputs
called control lines and according to the binary condition of these control inputs, either “HIGH” or
“LOW” the appropriate data input is connected directly to the output. Normally, a multiplexer has an
even number of 2n data input lines and a number of “control” inputs that correspond with the number
of data inputs.
Types of Multiplexer
• 2-1 multiplexer ( 1select line)
• 4-1 multiplexer (2 select lines)
• 8-1 multiplexer(3 select lines)
• 16-1 multiplexer (4 select lines)
2-input Multiplexer Design (Block Diagrams)
 2-input Multiplexer Design
• The input A of this simple 2-1 line multiplexer circuit constructed from
standard NAND gates acts to control which input ( I0 or I1 ) gets passed to
the output at Q.
• From the truth table ,we can see that when the data select input, A is LOW
at logic 0, input I1 passes its data through the NAND gate multiplexer
circuit to the output, while input I0 is blocked. When the data select A is
HIGH at logic 1, the reverse happens and now input I0 passes data to the
output Q while input I1 is blocked.
• So by the application of either a logic “0” or a logic “1” at A we can select
the appropriate input, I0 or I1 with the circuit acting a bit like a single pole
double throw (SPDT) switch.
 2-input Multiplexer Design
• As we only have one control line, (A) then we can only switch 21 inputs and in
this simple example, the 2-input multiplexer connects one of two 1-bit sources to a
common output, producing a 2-to-1-line multiplexer. We can confirm this in the
following Boolean expression.

Q = A.I0.I1 + A.I0.I1 + A.I0.I1 + A.I0.I1

and for our 2-input multiplexer circuit above, this can be simplified too:

Q = A.I1 + A.I0

• We can increase the number of data inputs to be selected further simply by

following the same procedure and larger multiplexer circuits can be implemented
using smaller 2-to-1 multiplexers as their basic building blocks. So for a 4-input
multiplexer we would therefore require two data select lines as 4-inputs represents
22 data control lines give a circuit with four inputs, I0, I1, I2, I3 and two data
select lines A and B as shown.
4-to-1 Channel Multiplexer
 4-to-1 Channel Multiplexer (Block Diagrams)

• The Boolean expression for this 4-to-1 Multiplexer above with inputs A to D and data select
lines a, b is given as:
Q = abA + abB + abC + abD

• In this example at any one instant in time only ONE of the four analogue switches is closed,
connecting only one of the input lines A to D to the single output at Q. As to which switch is
closed depends upon the addressing input code on lines “a” and “b“.

• So for this example to select input B to the output at Q, the binary input address would need
to be “a” = logic “1” and “b” = logic “0”. Thus we can show the selection of the data
through the multiplexer as a function of the data select bits as shown.
 Multiplexer Input Line Selection

• Adding more control address lines, (n) will allow the multiplexer to control more inputs as it can
switch 2n inputs but each control line configuration will connect only ONE input to the output.

• Then the implementation of the Boolean expression above using individual logic gates would
require the use of seven individual gates consisting of AND, OR and NOT gates as shown.
4 Channel Multiplexer using Logic Gates
 4 Channel Multiplexer using Logic Gates

Here in this example the 4 input channels are switched to 2 individual output
lines but larger arrangements are also possible. This simple 4-to-2
configuration could be used for example, to switch audio signals for stereo
pre-amplifiers or mixers.
8-1 Multiplexer Circuit
 8-1 Multiplexer Circuit
• For the combination of selection input, the data line is connected
to the output line. The circuit shown below is an 8*1 multiplexer.
The 8-to-1 multiplexer requires 8 AND gates, one OR gate and 3
selection lines. As an input, the combination of selection inputs are
giving to the AND gate with the corresponding input data lines.
• In a similar fashion, all the AND gates are given connection. In
this 8*1 multiplexer, for any selection line input, one AND gate
gives a value of 1 and the remaining all AND gates give 0. And,
finally, by using OR gate, all the AND gates are added; and, this
will be equal to the selected value.
 Applications of Multiplexers
Multiplexers are used in various applications wherein multiple-data need to be transmitted by using
single line.

• Communication System
A communication system has both a communication network and a transmission system. By using a
multiplexer, the efficiency of the communication system can be increased by allowing the transmission
of data, such as audio and video data from different channels through single lines or cables.

• Computer Memory
Multiplexers are used in computer memory to maintain a huge amount of memory in the computers, and
also to reduce the number of copper lines required to connect the memory to other parts of the computer.

• Telephone Network
In telephone networks, multiple audio signals are integrated on a single line of transmission with the
help of a multiplexer.

• Transmission from the Computer System of a Satellite

Multiplexer is used to transmit the data signals from the computer system of a spacecraft or a satellite to
the ground system by using a GSM satellite.
What is a De-multiplexer ?

• De-multiplexer is also a device with one input and multiple output lines. It is
used to send a signal to one of the many devices. The main difference
between a multiplexer and a de-multiplexer is that a multiplexer takes two or
more signals and encodes them on a wire, whereas a de-multiplexer does
reverse to what the multiplexer does.

• The data distributor, known more commonly as a De-multiplexer or “Demux”

for short, is the exact opposite of the Multiplexer we saw in the previous
tutorial.

• The de-multiplexer takes one single input data line and then switches it to
any one of a number of individual output lines one at a time. The de-
multiplexer converts a serial data signal at the input to a parallel data at its
output lines as shown below.
 Types of De-multiplexer

Types of De multiplexer

1-2 de-multiplexer (1 select line)

1-4 de-multiplexer (2 select lines)
1-8 de-multiplexer (3 select lines)
1-16 de-multiplexer (4 select lines)
 1-2 de-multiplexer (1 select line)

• A 1-to-2 de-multiplexer consists of one input line, two output lines and one
select line. The signal on the select line helps to switch the input to one of the
two outputs. The figure below shows the block diagram of a 1-to-2 de-
multiplexer with additional enable input.

• In the figure, there are only two possible ways to connect the input to output
lines, thus only one select signal is enough to do the de-multiplexing operation.
When the select input is low, then the input will be passed to Y0 and if the
select input is high then the input will be passed to Y1.
 1-2 de-multiplexer (Truth Table)
• The truth table of a 1-to-2 demultiplexer is shown below in which the input is routed to Y0 and Y1
depends on the value of select input S. In the table output Y1 is active when the combination of
select line and input line are active high, i.e., S F = 11.

• Therefore, the output Y1 = SF and similarly the output Y0 is equal to S ̅ F.

1-2 de-multiplexer (Truth Table)
• From the truth table, the logic diagram of this de-multiplexer can be designed by using
two AND gates and one NOT gate as shown in below figure. When the select lines S=0,
AND gate A1 is enabled while A2 is disabled.

• Then, the data from the input flows to the output line Y1. Similarly, when S=1, AND gate
A2 is enabled and AND gate A1 is disabled, thus data is passed to the Y0 output.
 1-to-4 De-multiplexer
• A 1-to-4 de-multiplexer has a single input (D), two selection lines (S1 and S0) and four
outputs (Y0 to Y3). The input data goes to any one of the four outputs at a given time for a
particular combination of select lines.

• This de-multiplexer is also called as a 2-to-4 de-multiplexer which means that two select
lines and 4 output lines. The block diagram of 1:4 DEMUX is shown below.
 1-to-4 De-multiplexer (Truth
•
Table )
The truth table of this type of de-multiplexer is given below. From the truth table it is
clear that, when S1=0 and S0= 0, the data input is connected to output Y0 and when S1=
0 and s0=1, then the data input is connected to output Y1.

• Similarly, other outputs are connected to the input for other two combinations of select
lines.
 1-to-4 De-multiplexer (Truth
Table )
From the table, the output logic can be expressed as min terms and are given below.

Where D is the input data, Y0 to Y3 are output lines and S0 & S1 are select lines.

• From the above Boolean expressions, a 1-to-4 de-multiplexer can be implemented

by using four 3-input AND gates and two NOT gates as shown in figure below.
The two selection lines enable the particular gate at a time.

• So depends on the combination of select inputs, input data is passed through the
selected gate to the associated output.
 1-to-4 De-multiplexer (Block Diagram)
• This type of de-multiplexer is available in IC form and a typical IC
74139 is most commonly used dual 1-to-4 de-multiplexer. It has two
independent de-multiplexers and each DEMUX accepts two binary
inputs as select lines and four mutually exclusive active-low outputs.

• Both de-multiplexers share a common set of selection lines so they are

selected in parallel. Also, each de-multiplexer consists of enable pin or
data input, for one de-multiplexer it is active high data input and for
other it is active low data input.
 1-8 De-multiplexers
• The de-multiplexer is also called as data distributors as it
requires one input, 3 selected lines and 8 outputs. De-
multiplexer takes one single input data line, and then
switches it to any one of the output line. 1-to-8 de-
multiplexer circuit diagram is shown below; it uses 8 AND
gates for achieving the operation.

• The input bit is considered as data D and it is transmitted to

the output lines. This depends on the control input value of
the AB. When AB = 01, the upper second gate F1 is
enabled, while the remaining AND gates are disabled, and
the data bit is transmitted to the output giving F1= data. If
D is low, the F1 is low, and if D is high, the F1 is high. So
the value of the F1 depends on the value of D, and the
remaining outputs are in low state.
 1-8 De-multiplexers (Truth Table)
The truth table for this type of de-multiplexer is shown below. The input D is connected
with one of the eight outputs from Y0 to Y7 based on the select lines S2, S1 and S0.

For example, if S2S1S0=000, then the input D is connected to the output Y0 and so on.
 1-8 De-multiplexers (Truth Table)
From this truth table, the Boolean expressions for all the outputs can be
written as follows.
 Applications of De-multiplexer
De-multiplexers are used to connect a single source to multiple destinations. These applications
include the following:

• Communication System
Mux and demux both are used in communication system to carry out the process of data transmission.
A De-multiplexer receives the output signals from the multiplexer and at the receiver end it converts
them back to the original form.

• Arithmetic Logic Unit

The output of the ALU is fed as an input to the De-multiplexer, and the output of the de-multiplexer is
connected to a multiple register. The output of the ALU can be stored in multiple registers.

• Serial to Parallel Converter

This converter is used to reconstruct parallel data. In this technique, serial data is given as an input to
the De-multiplexer at a regular interval, and a counter is attached to the de-multiplexer at the control
input to detect the data signal at the output of the de-multiplexer. When all data signals are stored, the
output of the demux can be read out in parallel.
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www.electronics-tutorials.ws/combination/comb_3.html
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