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TTL NOR gate; 74XX characteristics

Short answer

A TTL NOR gate uses multiple emitter inputs with phase splitters; any input HIGH saturates a phase splitter, turning on Q4 and off Q3, giving Y=0. Standard 74XX characteristics: VCC=5V±5%, VIH=2V, VIL=0.8V, VOH=2.4V, VOL=0.4V, noise margin 0.4V, fan-out 10, propagation delay ~10ns, power ~10mW.

Draw the schematic diagram of TTL NOR gate. Discuss the characteristics of TTL 74XX series gates.

TTL NOR gate

                 +5 V
   +-------+--------+----------+
 R1A 4k  R1B 4k   R2 1.6k    R4 130
   |       |        |          |
   b       b        +-----+    c
A--e Q1A B-e Q1B    |     +--b Q3
   c       c        |          e
   |       |     +--+--+       |
   |       |     c     c      D1
   +-------)---b Q2A   |       |
           +---------b Q2B     |
                 e     e       +--- Y
                 +--+--+       c
                    |     +--b Q4
                    +-----+    e
                    |          |
                  R3 1k        |
   GND -------------+----------+

(")" marks a crossing without connection.)

Either input HIGH saturates its phase splitter (Q2A or Q2B) → Q4 ON, Q3 OFF → Y = 0. Both inputs LOW → Q2A, Q2B OFF → Q3 ON → Y = 1. So Y=A+B‾Y = \overline{A + B}.

Characteristics of standard TTL 74XX series

ParameterValue
Supply voltage5 V ± 5% (4.75–5.25 V)
VIH(min)V_{IH(min)} / VIL(max)V_{IL(max)}2.0 V / 0.8 V
VOH(min)V_{OH(min)} / VOL(max)V_{OL(max)}2.4 V / 0.4 V
Noise margin0.4 V
Input currentsIIH=40 μI_{IH} = 40\ \muA, IIL=−1.6I_{IL} = -1.6 mA
Output currentsIOH=−400 μI_{OH} = -400\ \muA, IOL=16I_{OL} = 16 mA
Fan-outIOL/IIL=16/1.6=10I_{OL}/I_{IL} = 16/1.6 = 10
Propagation delay≈ 9–10 ns
Power per gate≈ 10 mW
Speed–power product≈ 100 pJ
Temperature range0 to 70 °C (54XX: −55 to 125 °C)

Other points: totem-pole output (fast, but outputs cannot be wired together), unconnected inputs act as HIGH (but should be tied to VCCV_{CC} through a resistor), and current spikes during switching need decoupling capacitors. Improved families (74LS, 74S, 74ALS, 74F) trade speed against power.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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