© 2000 Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation DS006397 www .fairchildsemi.com
August 1986
Revised April 2000
DM74LS161A • DM74LS163A Synchronous 4-Bit Binary Counters
DM74LS161A • DM74LS163A
Synchronous 4-Bit Binary Counters
General Descript ion
These synchr onous, presetta ble counters featu re an inter-
nal car ry lo ok- ahe ad for a ppli ca tion i n high -sp eed co unting
designs. The DM74LS161A and DM74LS163A are 4-bit
binary counters. The carry output is decoded by means of
a NOR gate, thus preventing spikes during the normal
counting mode of operation. Synchronous operation is pro-
vided by having all flip-flops clocked simultaneously so that
the outputs change coincident with each other when so
instructed by the count-enable inputs and internal gating.
This mode of operation eliminates the output counting
spikes which are normally associated with asynchronous
(ripple clock) counters. A buffered clock input triggers the
four flip-flops on the rising (positive-going) edge of the
clock input waveform.
These counters are fully programmable; that is, the outputs
may be preset to either level. As presetting is synchronous,
setting up a low level at the load in pu t disab les th e co unter
and causes th e outputs to agree with the setup data aft er
the next cl ock p ulse, re gardle ss of the le vels of th e ena ble
input. The clear function for the DM74LS161A is asynchro-
nous; and a low level at the clear input se ts all four of the
flip-flop outputs LOW, regardless of the levels of clock,
load, or enable inputs. The clear function for the
DM74LS1 63A is synch ronous; a nd a low l evel at the clear
inputs sets all four of the flip-flop outputs LOW after the
next clock pulse, regardless of the levels of the enable
inputs. This synchronous clear allows the count length to
be modified easily, as decoding the maximum count
desired can be accomplished with one external NAND
gate. The gate output is connected to the clear input to
synchronously clear the counter to all low outputs.
The carry look-ahead circuitry provides for cascading
counters for n-bit synchronous applications without addi-
tional gating. Instrumental in accomplishing this function
are two count-enable inputs and a ripple carry output.
Both count-enable inputs (P and T) must be HIGH to count,
and inp ut T i s fed for ward to e nab l e th e rip ple ca rr y output.
The ripple carry output thus enabled will produce a high-
level output pulse with a duration approximately equal to
the high-level portion of the QA output. This high-level over-
flow ripple carry pulse can be used to enable successive
cascaded stages. HIGH-to-LOW level transitions at the
enable P or T inputs may occur, regardless of the logic
level of the clock.
These counters feature a fully independent clock circuit.
Changes made to control inputs (enable P or T or load) that
will modify the operating mode have no effect until clocking
occurs . The funct ion of the counte r (whether enable d, dis-
abled, loading, or counting) will be dictated solely by the
conditi ons meeting the stable set-u p and hold times.
Features
■Synchronously programmable
■Internal look-ahead for fast counting
■Carry output for n-bit cascading
■Synchronous counting
■Load control line
■Diode-clamped inputs
■Typical propagation time, clock to Q output 14 ns
■Typical clock frequency 32 MHz
■Ty pical power dissipation 93 mW
Ordering Code:
Devices also available in Tape and R eel. Speci fy by appending the s uffix let t er “X” to the o rdering c ode.
Order Number Package Number Package Description
DM74LS161AM M16A 16-Lead Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC), JEDEC MS-012, 0.150 Narrow
DM74LS161AN N16E 16-Lead Plastic Dual-In-Line Package (PDIP), JEDEC MS-001, 0.300 Wide
DM74LS163AM M16A 16-Lead Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC), JEDEC MS-012, 0.150 Narrow
DM74LS163AN N16E 16-Lead Plastic Dual-In-Line Package (PDIP), JEDEC MS-001, 0.300 Wide