Digital Logic Families

IC Families
Digital Logic Families: IC Families

• Miniature, low-cost electronics circuits

whose components are fabricated on a
single, continuous piece of semiconductor
material to perform a high-level function.
• Usually referred to as a monolithic IC
first introduced in 1958.
The digital ICs are categorized as:
1. Small scale integration SSI <12 no of gates
2. Medium scale integration MSI 12 to 99 no of gates
3. Large scale integration LSI 100 to 9999 no of gates
4. Very large scale integration VLSI 10,000 or more
 Digital IC can be further categorized into
bipolar or unipolar IC. Bipolar ICs are
devices whose active components are
current controlled while unipolar ICs are
devices whose active components are
voltage controlled.
IC Packaging

• IC packaging protect the chip from mechanical

damage and chemical contamination.
• Provides a completed unit large enough to
handle.
• So that it is large enough for electrical
connections to be made.
• Material is molded plastic, epoxy, resin, or
silicone. Ceramic used if higher thermal
dissipation capabilities required. Metal/glass
used in special cases.
Three most common packages for ICs are:
a) dual-in-line (DIPS) (most common)
b) flat pack
c) axial lead (TO5)

Figure 8 - Sample combinational circuit.

URL: https://www.electronics-tutorial.net/digital-logic-families/
Date of Retrieval: April 9, 2019
• A logic family refers to digital integrated
circuit devices which are constructed with a
combination of electronic gates.
• A family has its own power supply
voltage and distinct logic levels.
• Each family has its own characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages.
Also within each family, there is a range of
voltages which may be high level or low level.
These families are listed below:

• DL : Diode Logic.
• RTL : Resistor Transistor Logic.
• DTL : Diode Transistor Logic.
• TTL : Transistor Transistor Logic.
• ECL : Emitter coupled logic.
• CMOS : Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor Logic.
Description and Characteristics

DL : Diode Logic

In Diode logic, all the logic is implemented

with the use of resistors and diodes. It is
essential that the diode is forward biased so that
it can conduct. In diode logic, the purpose of the
diodes is to perform OR and AND operations.
Diodes can also be used as a logical switch.
Disadvantages of Diode Logic:

• Degrade the signals quickly

• Diodes also cannot work for multiple
stages, only one stage at a time..
• Cannot perform the NOT operation.
RTL : Resistor Transistor Logic
In resistor-transistor logic, all the logic is
implemented with the use of transistors and
resistors. In this logic, input signals are combined
with the use of transistors.
Advantage:
• Less number of Transistors
• Not very expensive and are very simple to construct
Disadvantage:
• Great amount of current from the power supply
• Cannot be used in today’s computers as they cannot
switch at high speeds
• Low Fan In
DTL : Diode Transistor Logic
In Diode-transistor logic, all the logic is
implemented with the use of diodes and
transistors. DTL has some advantages over DL and
RTL.
Advantage:
• OR operation can be performed by the diodes
instead of resistors.
Disadvantage:
• Switching speed of the transistor is limited
• Propagation Delay is Larger
TTL : Transistor Transistor Logic
In transistor-transistor logic, the logic
gates are constructed around the transistors.
It was first introduced in 1964. TTL uses
bipolar transistors to construct its integrated
circuits. There have been different versions
of TTL:
1.Standard TTL
2.High speed TTL
3.Low power TTL
4.Schhottky TTL
All the TTL families above have three
configurations namely:

1. Totem-Pole output.
2. Open collector output.
3. Tristate output.
• TTL has become the standard logic circuit in
many applications for a number of years.
• TTL greatly decreases the manufacturing costs
because multiple emitters can be added in the
input so no extra space is needed and a multiple
input gate can be constructed easily.
• The output circuit has also been modified in
recent years and the configuration is called "Totem
pole".
• A commercial IC package of TTL includes three
three-input gates, four two-input gates, or two
four-input gates.
The TTL family includes,
• standard TTL designed as 74 or 54
• low-power TTL designed as 74L or 54L
• high-power TTL designed as 74H or 54H
• low-power Schottky TTL designed as 74LS or 54LS
• Schottky TTL designed as 74S or 54S
• advanced low-power Schottky TTL designed as 74ALS
or 54ALS
• advanced Schottky TTL designed as 74AS or 54AS
• Fast TTL designed as 74F or 54F
An alphabetic code preceding this indicates the
name of the manufacturer. A two-, three- or four-
digit numerical code indicates the logic function
performed by the IC.
ECL : Emitter coupled logic.

In Emitter coupled logic, the transistors

are prevented from going into deep
saturation so that there are no storage
delays. In fact, it is the fastest bi-polar circuit
available today. This logic family bypasses
TTL in terms of speed.
Advantage:
• Used in applications with high speed
environment
• Very low propagation delay
Disadvantage:
• Large Silicon Area
• Large Power Consumption
CMOS : Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor Logic.
CMOS is known for its low power consumption
and high fan-out. The transistors inside the CMOS
are made from an NMOS transistor and PMOS
transistor. To realize the logical functions, both P-
type and N-type transistors are used. It is
currently being used in microprocessor technology
and Application Specific Integrated Circuits. There
is no power dissipation in CMOS. It is also
considered to be one of the most reliable logic
family today.
CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-
semiconductor) technology is used
predominantly to create digital circuitry.
The fundamental building blocks of CMOS
circuits are P-type and N-type MOSFET
transistors. CMOS technology employs two
types of transistor: n-channel and p-
channel.
The popular CMOS family includes:
• 4000A
• 4000B
• 4000UB
• 54/74C
• 54/74HC
• 54/74HCT
• 54/74AC
• 54/74ACT