Finite State Machines
A combinational circuit is a logic circuit whose
output depends only on the current input values
— there's no memory.
Key Characteristics:
◦ No clock
◦ No memory/storage Output is updated immediately
when input changes
Examples:
◦ Adders
◦ Multiplexers
◦ Encoders/Decoders
◦ Logic gates (AND, OR, NOT...)
A sequential circuit is a logic circuit whose
output depends on current input AND past inputs
(i.e., it has memory).
Key Characteristics:
◦ Has memory elements (flip-flops/latches)
◦ Depends on a clock
◦ Stores state
Examples:
◦ Counters
◦ Registers
◦ Shift registers
◦ FSMs
FSM is a type of sequential circuit because:
◦ It stores state (memory of past input history)
◦ It updates the state based on:
The current input
The current state
◦ It usually transitions on a clock edge
Quick Analogy
FSM can be represented using:
◦ State Diagram
◦ Transition Table (also called State Table)
A Circuit to detect 3 or more 1’s
There are two main types of Finite State
Machines (FSMs) used in digital design:
◦ Mealy Machine
◦ Moore Machine
A Moore machine is a type of Finite State Machine
(FSM) where the outputs depend only on the
current state, not on the input.
It’s a special case of FSM where the output
remains stable until the system moves to a new
state
A Moore machine is defined by a 6-tuple:
◦ M=(Q,Σ,Δ,δ,λ,q0)
Q: Finite set of states
Σ: Input alphabet (set of input symbols)
Δ: Output alphabet (set of output symbols)
δ: State transition function δ: Q × Σ → Q
λ: Output function λ: Q → Δ (depends on state only)
q₀: Initial state (start state)
There are three lamps RED, GREEN and YELLOW. That should
go cyclically with a fixed time interval.
Some observations
The FSM will have three states, corresponding to the glowing states of
the lamp
The input set is null, state transition will occur whenever clock signal
comes
This is a Moore machine, since the lamp that will glow only depends on
the state and not on the input
Design of a serial parity detector
◦ A Continuous stream of bits is fed to a circuit in
synchronism with a clock. The circuit will be
generating a bit stream as output, where a 0 will
indicate “even number of 1’s seen so far” and a 1
will indicate “odd number of 1’s seen so far”
◦ Also a Moore machine
Design of a sequence detector
A circuit accepts a serial bit stream “x” as the input and produces a
serial bit stream “z” as output
Whenever the bit pattern “0110” appears in the input stream, it outputs
z=1; at all other times, z=0.
Overlapping occurrences of the patterns are also detected.
◦ This is a mealy machine
Mealy Machine (Output depends on state +
input)
MOORE Machine – Output depends only on state
We will create states to remember the progress of pattern detection:
Introduction to Data path and Controller Design
◦ Data path and Controller are the two essential components in a digital
system that works together to perform operations, particularly in
processors.
◦ Data path refers to the hardware components that are used to store,
process, and move data.
◦ Controller directs the operation of the data path by generating control
signals.
The Role of Data path
◦ The data path is responsible for the execution of data operations
(arithmetic, logic, memory access).
◦ The components of the data path include:
Registers: Store data temporarily.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Performs operations like addition, subtraction,
and comparison.
Multiplexers (MUX): Choose between different inputs based on control
signals.
Buses: Carry data between registers, ALU, and other components.
Memory: Stores data and instructions.
Shifters: Perform shift operations (left or right shifts).
The Role of Controller
◦ The controller manages the operation of the data
path by sending control signals.
◦ Control Signals direct the data path to perform
specific operations at each clock cycle. These
signals control:
Which registers are selected for reading or writing.
The operation the ALU should perform.
When data should be written back into registers or
memory.
In a memory read operation, data is fetched
from a specific memory address and
transferred to a register or processing unit.
This operation involves two main
components:
Data Path (What physically carries the data)
Control Path (What controls the flow of
operation)
