Lesson 1.2 Key Terms
Introduction to Circuit Design
Amplitude / The instantaneous voltage of a waveform. Often used to mean maximum amplitude, or peak voltage, or a pulse.
Boolean Expression / An algebraic expression made up of Boolean variables and operators, such as AND (-), OR (+), or NOT (-). Also referred to as Boolean function or a logic function.
Clocked D Flip-Flop / Type of flip-flop in which the D (data) input is the synchronous input.
Digital Waveform / A series of logic 1s and 0s plotted as a function of time.
Dual In-Line Package (DIP) / One style of integrated circuit package which has two rows of lead.
Duty Cycle (DC) / Fraction of the total period that a digital waveform is in the HIGH state. DC = th/T (often expressed as a percentage: %DC = th/Tx100%).
Falling Edge / The part of a pulse where the logic level is in transition from a HIGH to a LOW.
Flip-Flop / A sequential circuit based on a latch whose output changes when its CLOCK input receives a pulse.
Frequency / The number of cycles per unit time of a periodic waveform.
Hertz (Hz) / Unit of frequency. One hertz equals one cycle per second.
Integrated Circuit (IC) / An electronic circuit having many components, such as transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors, in a single package.
Inverter / Also called a NOT gate or an inverting buffer. A logic gate that changes its input logic level to the opposite state.
Logic Diagram / A diagram, similar to a schematic, showing the connection of logic gates.
Oscilloscope / A piece of test equipment used to view and measure a variety of different waveforms.
Period / The amount of time required for one complete cycle of a periodic event or waveform.
Propagation Delays (tPLH/tPHL) / Delay from the time a signal is applied to the time when the output makes its change.
Schematic Entry / A technique of entering CPLD design information by using a CAD (computer aided design) tool to draw a logic circuit as a schematic. The schematic can then be interpreted by design software to generate programming information for the CPLD.
Sine Wave / One in which amplitude varies in proportion to the sine function of an angle.
Square Wave / An almost instantaneous rise and decay of voltage or current in a periodic pattern with time and with a constant peak value.
555 Timer / TTL-compatible IC that can be wired to operate in several different modes, such as a one-shot and an astable multivibrator.
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Digital ElectronicsLesson 1.2 Introduction to Circuit Design Key Terms – Page 1