Mod 6 Counter

Counter - ​ In digital logic and computing, a Counter is a device which stores (and sometimes displays) the number of times a particular event or process has occurred, often in relationship to a clock signal. Counters are used in digital electronics for counting purpose, they can count specific event happening in the circuit. For example, in UP counter a counter increases count for every rising edge of clock. Not only counting, a counter can follow the certain sequence based on our design like any random sequence 0,1,3,2... .They can also be designed with the help of flip flops.flip-flops. It is a group of flip-flops with a clock signal applied.

1. Asynchronous or ripple counters.
2. Synchronous counters.

Asynchronous or Ripple Counters - ​ In asynchronous counter we don’t use universal clock, only first flip flop is driven by main clock and the clock input of rest of the following counters is driven by output of previous flip flops. We can understand it by following diagram.

The toggle (T) flip-flop are being used. But we can use the JK flip-flop also with J and K connected permanently to logic 1. External clock is applied to the clock input of flip-flop A and Q_A output is applied to the clock input of the next flip-flop i.e. FF-B.

Synchronous Counters - ​ Unlike the asynchronous counter, synchronous counter has one global clock which drives each flip flop so output changes in parallel. The one advantage of synchronous counter over asynchronous counter is, it can operate on higher frequency than asynchronous counter as it does not have cumulative delay because of same clock is given to each flip flop.

The J_A and K_A inputs of FF-A are tied to logic 1. So FF-A will work as a toggle flip-flop. The J_B and K_B inputs are connected to Q_A.