Digital Sequential Switching Circuit

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There

are

two

types

of

digital

switching

circuit

one

is

combinational digital circuits and other is sequential digital

circuits. The combinational digital switching circuits are those
whose outputs only depend upon present condition of inputs. The
previous inputs do not affect the present output of a
combinational circuit. Because of that a combinational circuit does
not require any memory like device. It only consists of different
combinations of logical gates. But a sequential switching circuit
gives output depending upon the condition of present inputs as
well as the conditions of previous inputs. Here, the previous
outputs of the circuit are fed back to the input via a feedback
path. For using previous output the feedback path has to store it.
For storing previous output the feedback path must consist of a
memory element. It means a sequential switching circuit must
have at least one memory element. A Sequential switching circuit
can be made by combining combinational circuits with memory
elements. There are many applications where the required
outputs of a digital system are not result of instantaneous inputs
instead they are also effected by previous input conditions. Hence
sequential circuits come into picture. A basic block diagram of a

sequential

circuit

is

shown

below.

At any point of time the information stored in memory element

determines the present state of the sequential circuit. The inputs
externally given to the circuit along with the present state of
circuit deliver required output which is again stored in the
memory element as next state of the circuit.

Types of Sequential Circuits

There are two types of sequential circuits - synchronous
sequential circuits and asynchronous sequential circuits. This
classification is based on the timing of their signals. Synchronous
sequential switching circuits are controlled by clock pulses. This
digital circuit acts with the rhythm of clock pulse. The pulse
generated repetitively at regular interval is called clock pulse and
it is generated by digital pulse generator. The digital signal
propagates through synchronous digital switching circuit along
with this digital pulse. The asynchronous sequential switching
circuit does not require any clock pulse to be operated. It can act
at any instant when the external inputs are applied and circuit
has already an internal state.
Difference between Combinational and Sequential Circuit

1.

The output of Combinational Digital Circuit is dependent on

the instantaneous or present inputs. The output of Sequential
Digital Circuit is dependent on the instantaneous or present
inputs as well as output of previously applied inputs.

2.

The Combinational Digital Circuit does not require any

memory element whereas Sequential Digital Circuit must

require a memory element.

3. The Combinational Digital Circuit is quite faster as there is
only propagation delay in logic gates. Sequential Digital Circuit
is slower in operation.