Digital Logic 1/Digital Signals and Logic Symbols

< Digital Logic 1

Basic Ideas and Concepts

  • Learn what is referred to as a "digital" circuit
  • Learn the respective logic gates and symbols associated
  • Learn the functionality of each logic gate

Digitization

When we say we have a "digital" circuit, it means that we create an entire new domain that is purely represented by an analog signal. What that means is, referring back to our basic circuit of a voltage source and a resistor, we can say that the different voltage levels can represent a "low" or "high". Using electrical and computer engineering conventions, we classify a logic "high" as anywhere from 4.5 volts to 5.0 volts and a logic "low" as anywhere from 0.1 to 0.5 volts.

So basically, we say that a 0 is inputted when the voltage is between 0.1-0.5 volts and a 1 if the voltage is 4.5-5 volts. Ideally however, we want 0.0 and 5.0 volts to represent 0 and 1 respectively and pictorially is represented below.

high 1 or onlow 0 or off

X 100M
X 100K
X 100
X 100m
X 100μ
Ω
A
DC
AC
C L

X 100M
X 100K
X 100
X 100m
X 100μ
Ω
A
DC
AC
C L

With this in mind, we can now move on and discuss logic gates which form the foundation of combinational circuits and analysis.

Logic Gates

Below are all the different logic symbols that are used to design and implement digital circuits.

TypeDistinctive shapeRectangular shapeMathematical
Representation
Truth table
AND Gate AND symbol AND symbol
INPUTOUTPUT
ABA AND B
000
010
100
111
OR Gate OR symbol OR symbol
INPUTOUTPUT
ABA OR B
000
011
101
111
NOT Gate NOT symbol NOT symbol
INPUTOUTPUT
ANOT A
01
10
NAND Gate NAND symbol NAND symbol
INPUTOUTPUT
ABA NAND B
001
011
101
110
NOR Gate NOR symbol NOR symbol
INPUTOUTPUT
ABA NOR B
001
010
100
110
XOR Gate XOR symbol XOR symbol
INPUTOUTPUT
ABA XOR B
000
011
101
110
XNOR Gate XNOR symbol XNOR symbol or
INPUTOUTPUT
ABA XNOR B
001
010
100
111