Glossary of Terms

This glossary focuses on fundamental concepts in digital design, covering essential topics like combinational and sequential logic, finite state machines, and hardware description languages. It is intended to support students in building a strong foundation for designing and analyzing digital circuits.

Terms and Definitions

Adder

A digital circuit that performs addition of numbers, typically binary.

ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit)

A combinational circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations on binary inputs.

Boolean Algebra

A branch of mathematics dealing with variables that have two distinct values (true/false or 1/0).

Clock Signal

A periodic signal used to synchronize the operations of digital circuits.

Combinational Logic

Logic circuits whose output depends only on the current inputs, not on previous input history.

D Flip-Flop

A memory element that captures the value of the D-input at a particular edge of the clock signal.

Decoder

A circuit that converts coded inputs into coded outputs where the output lines are mutually exclusive.

Encoder

A circuit that converts active input signals into a coded output.

Finite State Machine (FSM)

A computational model consisting of a finite number of states and transitions based on inputs.

Full Adder

A digital circuit that adds three binary bits, producing a sum and a carry output.

Hazard

A temporary fluctuation in output when inputs change in a digital logic circuit, often due to delays.

Latch

A basic memory device that can store one bit of information and maintains its output until changed.

Logic Gate

A fundamental building block of digital circuits that performs a basic logical function like AND, OR, or NOT.

Minterm

A product (AND combination) of all the variables in a Boolean function, either in true or complemented form, representing a single row in the truth table where the output is 1.

Multiplexer (MUX)

A combinational circuit that selects one of many inputs and forwards it to a single output line.

Register

A group of flip-flops used to store multiple bits of data.

Setup Time

The minimum time before the clock edge that the input signal must be held stable to ensure proper operation of a flip-flop.

Synchronous Circuit

A digital circuit where changes in the state are triggered by a clock signal.

Timing Diagram

A graphical representation of the relationships between signals and time in a digital circuit.

Verilog

A hardware description language (HDL) used to model electronic systems.