Electronics and Communication Engineering - Digital Electronics - Discussion

A ring counter with 5 flip-flops will have 5 distinct states.

Here's why:
Ring Counter Function:
A ring counter is a type of sequential circuit where the output of each flip-flop is connected to the input of the next flip-flop circularly.

State Representation:
In a ring counter, only one flip-flop is in the "high" (or "1") state at any given time, with all other flip-flops in the "low" (or "0") state.

Number of States:
The number of states a ring counter can cycle through is equal to the number of flip-flops used in the circuit.

Example:
If you have 5 flip-flops, the counter will cycle through 5 distinct states where only one of the flip-flops is "1" at any given time, and the others are "0".

For a n-bit,

[say for a counter, No : of states = N & No : of Flipflops = n]
Ring counter, no: of states = N = n.
no : of flipflops = n.

Johnson counter, no: of states = N = 2n.
no : of Flipflops = n.

General counter, no: of states = N = 2n.
no : of Flipflops = n.

Flipflop operates on clock whereas latch does not require clock. In synchronous system, all operation done at same time with same clock but in asynchronous system, operation done one by one with different clock inputs.

In ring counter each flip flops output is subjected to the next ff's input and the output of nth ff is connected to input or first ff. So after every n clock pulses the sequence will repeats.

Ring counter is N : 1 counter >>if it is 5, then 5 states.

Johnson counter is 2N : 1 counter>>here 10 states.

General counter is 2^N : 1 counter>>here 32 states.

In Ring counter the number of states depends upon the number of Flip-flop.

So according to given question.
In ring counter there is 5 flipflop.
So the no.of state will be '5'.

For ring counter, no. of states=N=no.of flipflops=5.
For johnson counter,no. of ststes = 2N = 2 * 5 = 10.
For general counter,no.of ststes = 2^N = 2^5 = 32.

5 state indicates:

10000
01000
00100
00010
00001

The 5 bit ring counter repeatedly operate on this states.
For 6 bit ring counter no of states = 6.

In a ring counter,
no.of states=no.of flipflops used.

In a johnson counter(switch tail or twisted counter),
no.of states= 2*no.of flipflops used.

Can anyone tell me the basic difference between a flip flop and a latch and also between synchronous and asynchronous?

Thanks.