
© 2000 Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation DS006401 www .fairchildsemi.com
August 1986
Revised April 2000
DM74LS169A Synchronous 4-Bit Up/Down Binary Counter
DM74LS169A
Synchronous 4-Bit Up/Down Binary Counter
General Descript ion
This synchronous p resettable counter features an internal
carry look-ahead for cascading in high-speed counting
applicatio ns. Synchro nous operat ion is provide d by having
all flip-f lops clocked simult aneously, so that the outputs al l
change at the sa me time whe n so instructed by the c ount-
enable inputs and internal gating. This mode of operation
helps eliminate the output counting spikes that are nor-
mally associated with asynchronous (ripple clock)
counters. A buffered clock input triggers the four master-
slave flip-flops on the rising edge of the clock waveform.
This counter is fully programmable; that is, the outputs may
each be preset either HIGH or LOW. The load input cir-
cuitry allows loading with the carry-enable output of cas-
caded counters. As loading is synchronous, setting up a
low level a t th e load inp ut disab l es the cou nte r a nd cau ses
the outputs to agree with the data inputs after the next
clock pulse.
The carr y look-ahead circuitr y permits casca ding counters
for n-bit synchronous applications without additional gating.
Both count- ena ble inp uts (P and T) must be LOW to count.
The dir ection o f the co unt is det erm ined b y the leve l of t he
UP/DOWN input. When the input is HIGH, the counter
counts UP; when LOW, it counts DOWN. Input T is fe d fo r-
ward to enable the carry outputs. The carry output thus
enabled will produce a low-level output pulse with a dura-
tion a pproximate ly equal to the high portio n of the QA out-
put w hen c ounting UP, and a pproxim atel y equ al to the lo w
portion of the QA output when counting DOWN. This low-
level overflow carry pulse can be used to enable succes-
sively cascaded stages. Transitions at the enable P or T
inputs are allowed regardless of the level of the clock input.
All inp uts are dio de clamped to minimi ze transmi ssion-line
effects, thereby simplifying system design.
This counter features a fully independent clock circuit.
Changes at control inputs (enable P, enable T, load, UP/
DOWN), w hich modify the ope rating mode, hav e no effect
until c locking o ccurs. Th e function of the counter (whether
enabled, disabled, loading, or counting) will be dictated
solely by th e conditio ns meeting th e stable setup and hold
times.
Features
■Fully synchronous operation for counting and
programming.
■Internal look-ahead for fast counting.
■Carry output for n-bit cascading.
■Fully indepe nde nt cl ock circui t
Ordering Code:
Devices also available in Tape and R eel. Spe ci fy by append ing the suffix let t er “X” to the orderin g c ode.
Connection Diagram
Order Number Package Number Package Description
DM74LS169AM M16A 16-Lead Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC), JEDEC MS-012, 0.150 Narrow
DM74LS169AN N16E 16-Lead Plastic Dual-In-Line Package (PDIP), JEDEC MS-001, 0.300 Wide