*04 Electronics (160-187).

qxd 2/2/07 12:21 pm Page 172

Combinational logic
Key words
light-dependent
design 2
resistor (LDR)
logic gate
resitance 1 Switch for electric motor 2 Fire alarm
thermistor +5V

1 Switch for electric motor

● With the switch open, voltage across
the NAND gate is high. This provides a buzzer
low input to the NOT gate. The NOT
gate provides a high output which
activates the relay, completing the
motor circuit.
● With the switch closed, voltage across
the NAND gate is low. This provides a
high input to the NOT gate. The NOT thermistor
gate provides a low output which
deactivates the relay, switching off the
motor. +5V

2 Fire alarm 0V
● The resistance of a thermistor falls 0V
with increasing temperature.
● The resistor and thermistor act as
potential dividers. At low temperatures
the thermistor’s resistance is high, 4 Non-sequential traffic
driver motor
thus the input to the NAND gate is lights
driver
high. The NAND gate acts as an AB
inverter so its output is low.
● If there is a fire the thermistor’s
resistance falls. The input to the NAND R
gate becomes low, its output high and
the buzzer is turned on.
3 Length detector
+5V
3 Length detector Y
● The resistance of a light dependant
resistor (LDR) falls with increasing
brightness.
● When both LDRs are dark, voltage
across them is high and inputs to the G
NAND gate are both high. This
produces a high output at the second
NAND gate, sounding the buzzer.
● If one LDR is moved towards a light its
resistance falls, as does the voltage A B R Y G
across it. When one input to the
NAND gate is low its output is high; 0 0 1 0 0
© Diagram Visual Information Ltd.

output of the second NAND gate will

be low and the buzzer will not sound. 0 1 1 1 0
4 Non-sequential traffic 1 0 0 0 1
lights
● The four possible inputs can be used 0V 1 1 0 1 0
to illuminate different combinations of
l
lights.