Logic circuits for digital systems may be combinational or sequential. A combinational circuit consists of logic gates whose outputs at any time are determined by combining the values of the applied inputs using logic operations. A combinational circuit performs an operation that can be specified logically by a set of Boolean expression. In addition to using logic gates, sequential circuits employ elements that store bit values. Sequential circuit outputs are a function of inputs and the bit value in storage elements. These values, in turn, are a function of previously applied inputs and stored values. As a consequence, the outputs of a sequential circuit depend not only on the presently applied values of the inputs, but also on pas inputs, and the behavior of the circuit must be specified by a sequence in time of inputs and internal stored bit values.



A combinational circuit consists of input variables, output variables, logic gates and interconnections. The interconnected logic gates accept signals from the inputs and generate signals at the output. The n input variables come from the environment of the circuit, and the m output variables are available for use by the environment. Each input and output variable exists physically as a binary signal that represents logic 1 or logic 0.

For n input variables, there are 2^n possible binary input combinations. For each binary combination of the input variables, there is one possible binary value on each output. Thus, a combinational circuit can be specified by a truth table that lists the output values for each combination of the input variables. A combinational circuit can also be described by m Boolean function, one for each output variable. Each such function is expressed as function of the n input variables.

Combinational Circuit Design:

The design of combinational circuit starts from a specification of the problem and culminates in a logic diagram or set of Boolean equations from which the logic diagram can be obtained. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. From the specifications of the circuit, determine the required number of inputs and outputs, and assign a letter symbol to each.

2. Derive the truth table that defines the required relation ship between inputs and outputs.

3. Obtain the simplified Boolean functions of each outputs as function of the input variables.

4. Draw the logic diagram.

5. Verify the correctness of the design.