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Logic Gate

Diode logic uses diodes to construct basic logic gates for Boolean operations. It was commonly used in early computers before transistors replaced vacuum tubes. The diode OR gate outputs a 1 if any input is 1, while the diode AND gate only outputs a 1 if all inputs are 1. Diode logic has simplicity but lacks signal amplification, limiting its use. Real diodes have voltage drops and leakage currents not accounted for in ideal diode assumptions, requiring circuit design considerations.

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T Naveen
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582 views

Logic Gate

Diode logic uses diodes to construct basic logic gates for Boolean operations. It was commonly used in early computers before transistors replaced vacuum tubes. The diode OR gate outputs a 1 if any input is 1, while the diode AND gate only outputs a 1 if all inputs are 1. Diode logic has simplicity but lacks signal amplification, limiting its use. Real diodes have voltage drops and leakage currents not accounted for in ideal diode assumptions, requiring circuit design considerations.

Uploaded by

T Naveen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LOGIC GATES

Diode logic (DL), or diode-resistor logic (DRL), is the


construction of Boolean logic gates from diodes. Diode logic was
used extensively in the construction of early computers,
where semiconductor diodes could replace bulky and costly
active vacuum tube elements. The most common use for diode
logic is in DTL (Diode Transistor Logic) integrated circuits that
include an inverter for power gain and signal restoration.
While diode logic has the advantage of simplicity, the lack of an
amplifying stage in each gate limits its application. Not all logical
functions can be implemented in diode logic alone; only the noninverting logical AND and logical OR functions can be realized by
diode gates. If several diode logic gates are cascaded, the
voltage levels at each stage are significantly changed, so onestage is normally used. In special designs two-stage applications
are sometimes achieved.
Simplifying assumptions:
For illustration, this discussion assumes idealized diodes that
conduct in the forward direction with no voltage drop and do not
conduct in the reverse direction. Logic design assume two distinct
levels of signals that are labeled 1 or 0. For positive logic the 1
represents the most positive level and 0 for the most negative
level. For illustration, in this discussion positive logic 1 is
represented by +6 volts and 0 volts represents logic 0. In binary
logic, the exact magnitude of the signal voltage is not critical and

it is only necessary that 1 and 0 states be represented by


detectably different voltage levels.
In these examples, at least one input of every gate must be
connected to a voltage level providing the defined logic 1 or logic
0 levels. If all the inputs are disconnected from any driving source,
the output signal is not confined to the correct voltage range.
OR logic gate:
The image to the right shows a diode OR circuit. The diode
symbol is an arrow showing the forward low impedance direction
of current flow. All diodes have inputs on their anodes and
theircathodes are connected together to drive the output. R is
connected from the output to some negative voltage (-6 volts) to
provide bias current for the diodes.
If all inputs A and B and C are at 0 volts (logic level 0), current
flowing through R will pull the output voltage down until the diodes
clamp the output. Since these diodes are treated as ideal, the
output is clamped to 0 volts, which is logic level 0. If any input
switches to a positive voltage (logic 1), current flowing through the
now forward-biased diode will pull the output voltage up, providing
a positive voltage at the output, a logic 1. Any positive voltage will
represent a logic 1 state; the summing of currents through
multiple diodes does not change the logic level. The other diodes
are reverse biased and conduct no current.
If any input A OR B OR C is 1, the output will be 1. Only if all
inputs, A and B and C are 0 will the output be 0. This is the
definition of a logic OR. The truth table on the right of the image

shows the output for all combinations of inputs.This can be written


as:
A OR B OR C = OUTPUT
or
A+B+C=OUTPUT
In Boolean algebra the plus sign (+) is used to denote OR.
R can return to any negative voltage. If R is connected to 0
volts it will have no drive current available to drive the next
circuit; practical diodes need a bias current. In a practical
circuit, all signal levels, the value of R and its return voltage
are chosen by the circuit designer to meet the design

requirements.
AND logic gate:
The diode AND is basically the same as the OR except it is turned
upside down. The diodes are reversed so that the cathodes are
connected to the inputs and the anodes are connected together to
provide the output. R is connected to +12 volts to provide the

forward bias current for the diodes and current for output drive.

If all inputs A AND B AND C are a positive voltage (+6 volts here),
current flowing through R will pull the output positive till the diodes
clamp the output to +6 volts, the logical 1 output level. If any input
switches to 0 volts (logical 0 level), current flowing through the
diode will pull the output voltage down to 0 volts. The other diodes
would be reverse biased and conduct no current.
If input A or B or C is 0, the output will be 0. Only if all inputs, A
AND B AND C are 1 will the output be 1. This is the definition of a
logic AND. The truth table on the right of the image shows the
output for all combinations of inputs.
This can be written as:
A AND B AND C = OUTPUT
or
AxBxC=OUTPUT
(In Boolean algebra the multiplication symbol denotes AND.)
Similar to the diode OR, R can return to any voltage that is
more positive than the logic level 1. If R is connected to a
voltage equal to the 1 level it will have no drive current
available to drive the next circuit. All signal levels, the value

of R and its return voltage are options chosen by the circuit


designer to meet the design requirements.

Diode logic with real diode


The above descriptions assumed an ideal diode with zero
resistance in the forward direction and infinite resistance in the
reverse direction. The circuit designer must concern himself with
real diodes. The articles p-n diode and a less detailed article p-n
junction describe the physics of the PN diode. After all the
discussion of electrons, holes, majority and minority carriers etc.
each come down to an equation that most directly relates to the
circuit designer. The real PN diodeactually has a voltage current
characteristic similar to the curve on the right. A more specific
definition can be found in the Shockley diode equation. The
designer of a reliable diode logic circuit is usually limited to what
the diode specification provides which is often less than the
equation suggests. Typically the specification will primarily provide
a maximum forward voltage drop at one or more forward currents
and a reverse leakage current. It will also provide a maximum
reverse voltage limited by zener or avalanche breakdown. Typical
worst case specifications are shown below for both germanium
and silicon PN diodes.
Germanium diode:
Max forward voltage at 10 ma = 1 volt @ 0 to 85 C
Max reverse leakage current at 15 volts = 100 microamps @
85 C

Silicon diode:
Max forward voltage at 10 ma = 1 volt @ 0 to 125 C
Max reverse leakage current at 15 volts = 1 microamps @
85 C
Effects of component manufacturing variations and
temperature are usually included in these
specifications.
More realistically the germanium forward voltage might
be 0.25 to 0.4 volts but this is often not specified. The
silicon leakage current might be much lower possibly 1
to 100 nanoamps.
PN diodes also have transient behaviors that might be
of concern with the design. The capacitance of a PN
diode between anode and cathode is inversely
proportional to the reverse voltage, growing as it
approaches zero volts and into forward bias. There is
also a recovery concern where the current will not
decrease immediately when it is switched from forward
bias to reverse bias. In the case of the diode OR if two
or more of the inputs are at the 1 level and one
switches to 0 it will cause a glitch or increase in current
in the diodes that remain at 1. This can cause a short
term dip in the output voltage. In practice if the diode
logic gate drives a transistor inverter, as it usually
does, and the diode and transistor are of similar
construction the transistor will have a similar base
collector capacitance that is amplified by the transistor
gain so that it will be too slow to pass the glitch. Only

when the diode is of a much slower construction will it


become any concern at all. In one unusual design
small selenium diode discs were used with germanium
transistors. The recovery time of the very slow
selenium diodes caused a glitch on the inverter output.
It was fixed by placing a selenium diode across the
base emitter junction of the transistor making it think
it was a selenium transistor (if there could ever be
one).

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