How Computers Really Work

6MEMORY AND CLOCK SIGNALS

In the previous chapters we saw how digital logic gates can be combined to produce useful combinational logic circuits where the output is a function of the inputs. In this chapter, we look at sequential logic circuits. These circuits have memory, the ability to store a record of the past. We cover some specific kinds of memory devices: latches and flip-flops. We also learn about clock signals, which are a way to synchronize multiple circuit components.

Sequential Logic Circuits and Memory

Let’s now examine a type of digital circuit known as a sequential logic circuit. A sequential logic circuit’s output depends not ...