March 17, 2013

Puzzles: Half Adder using Multiplexer

Let's say you have to realize a half adder. But all you've got are 2:1 Multiplexers. How would you design one half adder using ONLY 2:1 Multiplexers?

Click here to find the solution:

Solution:

16 comments:

  1. Hi Palindrome. I was just curious to know whether 2:1 MUX would be called an universal gate or not? And how exactly would you define an universal gate?

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  2. Hi Tina. Yes, 2:1 MUX would be an universal gate. Universal Gate is one using which you can design any circuit. Including sequential logic like latches or flip flops. Basic thumb rule is that if you're given a gate or set of gates, try and make a NAND gate out of it. If you are, then the set of gates is an Universal Gate. 2:1 MUX can in fact be used to make a NAND gate, and hence it is an Universal Gate.

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  3. Hey, is it possible to make a decoder with demultiplexor?

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  4. What's the difference between the two? Decoder and Demultiplexer are the same. Did you mean making a decoder using a MULTIPLEXER?

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  5. Then It Is better to use 2:1 mux In all circuit because due to this a circuit size will minimized.

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  6. I wanted to know, Is there any disadvantages if we use mux as universal gate?

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    1. MUX might not occupy lesser area as compared to other universal gates like NAND or NOR. It really depends and varies from one technology to another. The biggest disadvantage of using MUX as an universal gate would be the increased pin density. Consider a 2 input NAND gate. It would have 3 pins, so you need routing resources for these 3 pins. MUX would have 4. This would result in increased pin-density and might result in congestion issues while routing the design.

      Does it make sense?

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  7. Half Adder using Decoder 2 to 4 (with enable) and an OR gate?

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    1. That could be another problem. Using decoders and OR gates, one can realize any boolean function as a sum of corresponding minterms.

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  8. please tell me how to implement half subtractor using mux.... please

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    1. Hi Jenny,

      It wouldn't help you if I were to post the solution. I would strongly recommend you to arrive at the solution from the truth table.

      Truth table would be:
      P Q D B (P, Q are inputs; D is the difference; B is the borrow)
      0 0 0 0
      0 1 1 1
      1 0 1 0
      1 1 0 0

      Now look at the outputs D and B. And try to implement it first using primitive gates, and then using 2:1 MUX. Please feel free to revert back in case you still have a doubt.

      I hope it'll help.

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  9. Can you tell the advantages of implementing 2:1 mux using halfadder...
    -->reply

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    1. Hi Naveen,

      There's no advantage of implementing a 2:1 MUX using HA, but imagine a scenario where you have only Half adders and you wish to realize a multiplexer?

      Alternatively, let's say, you taped-out your design with lots of spare cells in the base layer. However, you need to do some ECOs by changing the metal interconnects. And by chance you have lots of half adders. At that time you could use half adders to make a MUX.

      In reality, it was just a problem intended to give you a feel that it is possible to play around with digital components! :)

      Thanks,
      Naman

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    2. Love your reply Naman! Greatly appreciate your thoughts.

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  10. In designing of multipliers as a part of digital system design in VLSI , using multiplexers or full adders would be more beneficial keeping in mind the characterisitics like delay , power and area of the multiplier ?? which of the two is likely to give us better results of the multiplier constraints specified above ???

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  11. Hey Naman, great blog! Very helpful !

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