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Section 2.2 Circuits

Subsection 2.2.1 Background

Digital circuits are built by combining large numbers of pieces, called gates. Gates take one or two electrical inputs which are either low (0) or high (1) current and output a single current. The gates act like negation, and, and or. Figure 2.2.1 shows the symbols that are used on diagrams for these three gates.

Figure 2.2.1. Symbols for Circuits

An example of combining gates to produce a more complicated circuit is shown in Figure 2.2.2 for ‘if.’

Figure 2.2.2. Circuit for If

Subsection 2.2.2 Practice

Checkpoint 2.2.3.

Draw the circuit diagram that accepts three inputs \(a,b,c\) and outputs \(a \wedge (\neg b \vee c).\)