Round 3: Combinational logic

(A 2-to-1 multiplexer circuit for two 4-bit buses.)

Learning objectives

In this round you will learn …

• … that binary logic gates form the basis of digital computing

• … that logic gates can be combined to yield combinational logic

• … the principle of bottom-up design

  • to start with simple designs and gradually evolve them towards larger and more ambitious goals

  • to simultaneously build up both the designs and your software tools to shape the designs

  • the practice of testing (“playing with”) your design, one functional unit at a time

• … to use software simulation as a tool to study a concept or a design

• … the notions of

  • specification (“what is it that must be done?”) and

  • implementation (“exactly how is it done?”)

• … the usefulness of encapsulating an implementation behind an interface

• … that combinational logic admits configurability by separating data and control

• … to use combinational logic to carry out simple operations on words

(Material that is marked with one or more asterisks (*) is good-to-know, but not critical to solving the exercises or passing the course.)