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2.5.2   Flip-Flop

Figure 2.18(a) shows a flip-flop constructed from two D latches: a master latch (the first one) and a slave latch . This flip-flop contains a total of nine inverters and four TGs, or 6.5 gates. In this flip-flop design the storage node S is buffered and the clock-to-Q delay will be one inverter delay less than the clock-to-QN delay.

 

FIGURE 2.18  CMOS flip-flop. (a) This negative-edge–triggered flip-flop consists of two latches: master and slave. (b) While the clock is high, the master latch is loaded. (c) As the clock goes low, the slave latch loads the value of the master latch. (d) Waveforms illustrating the definition of the flip-flop setup time t SU , hold time t H , and propagation delay from clock to Q, t PD .

In Figure 2.18(b) the clock input is high, the master latch is transparent, and node M (for master) will follow the D input. Meanwhile the slave latch is disconnected from the master latch and is storing whatever the previous value of Q was. As the clock goes low (the negative edge) the slave latch is enabled and will update its state (and the output Q) to the value of node M at the negative edge of the clock. The slave latch will then keep this value of M at the output Q, despite any changes at the D input while the clock is low (Figure 2.18c). When the clock goes high again, the slave latch will store the captured value of M (and we are back where we started our explanation).

The combination of the master and slave latches acts to capture or sample the D input at the negative clock edge, the active clock edge . This type of flip-flop is a negative-edge–triggered flip-flop and its behavior is quite different from a latch. The behavior is shown on the IEEE symbol by using a triangular "notch" to denote an edge-sensitive input. A bubble shows the input is sensitive to the negative edge. To build a positive-edge–triggered flip-flop we invert the polarity of all the clocksas we did for a latch.

The waveforms in Figure 2.18(d) show the operation of the flip-flop as we have described it, and illustrate the definition of setup time ( tSU ), hold time ( tH ), and clock-to-Q propagation delay ( tPD ). We must keep the data stable (a fixed logic '1' or '0') for a time tSU prior to the active clock edge, and stable for a time tH after the active clock edge (during the decision window shown).

In Figure 2.18(d) times are measured from the points at which the waveforms cross 50  percent of V DD . We say the trip point is 50 percent or 0.5. Common choices are 0.5 or 0.65/0.35 (a signal has to reach 0.65 V DD to be a '1', and reach 0.35 V DD to be a '0'), or 0.1/0.9 (there is no standard way to write a trip point). Some vendors use different trip points for the input and output waveforms (especially in I/O cells).

The flip-flop in Figure 2.18(a) is a D flip-flop and is by far the most widely used type of flip-flop in ASIC design. There are other types of flip-flopsJ-K, T (toggle), and S-R flip-flopsthat are provided in some ASIC cell libraries mainly for compatibility with TTL design. Some people use the term register to mean an array (more than one) of flip-flops or latches (on a data bus, for example), but some people use register to mean a single flip-flop or a latch. This is confusing since flip-flops and latches are quite different in their behavior. When I am talking about logic cells, I use the term register to mean more than one flip-flop.

To add an asynchronous set (Q to '1') or asynchronous reset (Q to '0') to the flip-flop of Figure 2.18(a), we replace one inverter in both the master and slave latches with two-input NAND cells. Thus, for an active-low set, we replace I2 and I7 with two-input NAND cells, and, for an active-low reset, we replace I3 and I6. For both set and reset we replace all four inverters: I2, I3, I6, and I7. Some TTL flip-flops have dominant reset or dominant set , but this is difficult (and dangerous) to do in ASIC design. An input that forces Q to '1' is sometimes also called preset . The IEEE logic symbols use 'P' to denote an input with a presetting action. An input that forces Q to '0' is often also called clear . The IEEE symbols use 'R' to denote an input with a resetting action.


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