Gate Ring Counters and Their Possible Advantages in Low Power Microelectronic Systems

摘要

Cascade and ring counters are frequently found in microelectronic systems because binary counter stages composed of flip-flops having appropriate pulse steering networks have been easily realized in semiconductor microelectronic form. Other arrangements, however, are superior in flexibility and power dissipation, but they are not realizable in semiconductor microelectronic form because of present limitations in semiconductor microelectronic fabrication capabilities. Gate ring counters are realizable, though, and they offer capabilities not available with cascade and ring counters. Nor and nard gate ring counters are discussed and compared with cascade and ring counters employing binary counter stages.