- 2076 Asoj · 2+4 marks
Combinational vs sequential; latch as bounce eliminator
Short answer
A NAND S'-R' latch with an SPDT switch eliminates contact bounce. When the switch moves, the first contact sets or resets the latch; subsequent bounces leave S'=R'=1 (hold), so output makes a single clean transition.
Differentiate between combination and sequential circuit. Explain briefly how latch can be used as bounce eliminator.
Combinational vs sequential circuit
| Point | Combinational circuit | Sequential circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Output depends on | Present inputs only | Present inputs and past state |
| Memory | No memory element | Has memory (latches, flip-flops) |
| Feedback | No feedback path | Output fed back to input |
| Clock | Not needed | Usually needed (synchronous) |
| Described by | Truth table | State table / state diagram |
| Examples | Adder, MUX, decoder | Flip-flop, register, counter |
Latch as a switch bounce eliminator
Contact bounce: when a mechanical switch is thrown, the metal contact hits the new terminal and bounces several times for a few milliseconds before it settles. A logic input connected directly to the switch therefore sees a burst of 0-1-0-1 pulses instead of one clean change. A counter would count every bounce.
A NAND S'-R' latch with a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch removes these pulses:
+5V +5V
| |
[R1] [R2]
| |
S' <---+---o A B o---+---> R'
\ /
\___o____/ switch arm
| (touches A or B)
GND
+---------------+
S' ----->| NAND S'-R' |---> Q
R' ----->| latch |---> Q'
+---------------+
How it works
- With the switch at position A, S' = 0 and R' = 1 (pulled up by R2). The latch is set: Q = 1.
- When the switch is moved towards B, it first leaves A. Now S' = R' = 1 (both pulled up): the latch is in the hold state and Q stays 1.
- The first time the contact touches B, R' = 0 and the latch resets: Q = 0.
- The contact now bounces: it leaves B (R' = 1, hold, Q stays 0) and touches B again (reset again, Q stays 0). The bounce never reaches A, so S' never becomes 0.
- Hence Q makes a single clean transition from 1 to 0 at the first contact. Moving the switch back to A gives a single clean 0-to-1 transition in the same way.
R' (at B) ‾‾‾‾‾|_|‾|_|‾|________
Q ‾‾‾‾‾|________________
first touch: one clean edge
The latch works because its "hold" condition (S' = R' = 1) ignores the open-contact gaps during bouncing, while the first contact already set the final state.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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