A ring counter is a type of counter made up of a shift register, with the output data fed back into its input. This creates a closed loop that continuously recirculates and repeats the data. There are two types: straight and twisted. The twisted counter requires half the flip flops and can run twice as fast.
In a computer system, the standard form of the ring counter is a type of counter composed of a shift register, another type of counter that exists in the sequential logic form. This type of logic is influenced and determined by previous inputs and previous history of the data. The registers produce discrete delays of waveforms or digital signals, which are clocked to certain functions by a discrete and varying amount of stages in a shift register. These stages are called “D” type flip-flops or “JK” type flip-flops. Shift registers once served as a computer’s digital memory, being up to hundreds of stages long.
Some shift registers can become ring counters if the output data of a particular shift register is fed back into its input. In performing this action, this type of register is now considered a ring counter where the output data of the final flip-flop becomes the input data of the register’s initial flip-flop. The data in the counter repeats itself continuously, recirculating and repeating the data within this closed loop. This type of counter is called a straight ring counter or an overbeck counter.
In a 4-bit linear ring counter, the circuit operates in binary code, with each bit set to 1 or 0, with sets of functions that reset each bit at each flip-flop. Operating this way, when the first bit goes to 1, all other bits go to 0. On each consecutive flip flop, the next bit that follows is set to 1 while the bit that was previously set to 1 becomes set to 0. This the process continues in this counter for 4 flip-flops until it reaches the last bit and starts again. The movement exhibited by this counter is called “rotational” due to its circular nature.
Another type of counter is called a twisted-ring counter, also known by the names Johnson ring counter or Moebius counter. The feedback data of this type of counter is similar to the overbeck counter except that the output data of the final flip-flop is inverted and fed back into the input of the initial flip-flop. This meter is beneficial because it requires half the amount of flip flops that an overbeck meter might require. In some cases, this type of meter can even run twice as fast, thus reducing the operating time. The twisted ring counter is available in standard forms of TTL or CMOS IC.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
