Fully Synchronous Operation for Counting

and Programming

Internal Carry Look-Ahead Circuitry for

Fast Counting

Carry Output for n-Bit Cascading

Fully Independent Clock Circuit

Package Options Include Plastic

Small-Outline (D) Packages, Ceramic Chip

Carriers (FK), and Standard Plastic (N) and

Ceramic (J) 300-mil DIPs

description

These synchronous 4-bit up/down binary

presettable counters feature an internal carry

look-ahead circuitry for cascading in high-speed

counting applications. Synchronous operation is

provided by having all flip-flops clocked

simultaneously so that the outputs change

coincident with each other when so instructed by

the count-enable (ENP, ENT) inputs and internal

gating. This mode of operation eliminates the

output counting spikes normally associated with

asynchronous (ripple-clock) counters. A buffered

clock (CLK) input triggers the four flip-flops on the

rising (positive-going) edge of the clock waveform.

These counters are fully programmable; that is,

they may be preset to either level. The load-input

circuitry allows loading with the carry-enable

output of cascaded counters. Because loading is

synchronous, setting up a low level at the load

(LOAD) input disables the counter and causes the

outputs to agree with the data inputs after the next

clock pulse.

The internal carry look-ahead circuitry provides for cascading counters for n-bit synchronous application without

additional gating. ENP and ENT inputs and a ripple-carry output (RCO) are instrumental in accomplishing this

function. Both ENP and ENT must be low to count. The direction of the count is determined by the level of the

up/down (U/D) input. When U/D is high, the counter counts up; when low, it counts down. ENT is fed forward

to enable RCO. RCO, thus enabled, produces a low-level pulse while the count is zero (all inputs low) counting

down or maximum (15) counting up. This low-level overflow ripple-carry pulse can be used to enable successive

cascaded stages. Transitions at ENP or ENT are allowed regardless of the level of the clock input. All inputs

are diode clamped to minimize transmission-line effects, thereby simplifying system design.

These counters feature a fully independent clock circuit. Changes at control inputs (ENP, ENT, LOAD, or U/D)

that modify the operating mode have no effect on the contents of the counter until clocking occurs. The function

of the counter (whether enabled, disabled, loading, or counting) is dictated solely by the conditions meeting the

stable setup and hold times.

The SN54ALS169B and SN54AS169A are characterized for operation over the full military temperature range

of −55°C to 125°C. The SN74ALS169B and SN74AS169A are characterized for operation from 0°C to 70°C.