Chapter 13

Asynchronous Sequential Network

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13.0 Introduction
Asynchronous sequential circuit is specified by a timing sequence of inputs,
outputs, and internal states. The change of internal state occurs in response to
the synchronized clock pulse. Asynchronous sequential circuit does not use
clock pulses. The memory element of the circuit is unclocking flip-flop or timedelay elements. The block diagram of an asynchronous sequential circuit is
shown in Fig. 13.1.

Figure 13.1: The block diagram of an asynchronous sequential circuit

The feedback would not have immediate response because of the propagation
delay in the combinational circuit. After this time lapse, the output will only
respond. Owing to the delay, there is unstable state associated with, race issue,
and hazard issue, which shall be dealt with.
Asynchronous sequential circuit is faster and more difficult to design than
synchronous sequential circuit. Asynchronous sequential circuit does not use
clock pulses. The change of internal state occurs when there is a change in the
input variables. The circuit is more difficult to design because of the timing
problem involved in the feedback path.
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Asynchronous sequential circuit is useful in a variety of application

especially for the case where speed of operation is important. In the application
where input signal can be changed at any time such as the communication
between two units, the design must be done with asynchronous circuits.
The circuit is also less expensive to design because there is no requirement
to design the clock pulse generation circuit.

13.1 Analysis Procedure

The analysis of asynchronous sequential circuits consists of obtaining a table or
diagram that describes the sequence of internal states and outputs as a function
of changes in the input variables. The analysis covers obtaining the transition
table, flow table, race condition, and stability considerations.

13.1.1 Transition Table

The procedure for obtaining a transition table from an asynchronous circuit is as
follow.
Determine all feedback loops in the circuit.
Designate the output of each feedback loop with variable Yi and its
corresponding input with yi for i = 1, 2,.., k, where k is the number of
feedback loops in the circuit.
Derive the Boolean functions of all Ys as a function of the external
inputs and the ys.
Plot each Y function in a map using y variables for the row and the
external inputs for the column.
Combine all maps into one table showing the values of Y = Y1Y2Yk
inside each square.
Once the transition is ready, the behavior of the circuit can be analyzed
by observation for the state transition as a function of changes in the input
variables.
Consider an asynchronous circuit shown in Fig. 13.1, the Boolean functions of
the output Y1 and Y2 are respectively equal to
Y1 = x y1 + x y 2

(13.1)

Y2 = x y1 + x y 2

(13.2)
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Figure 13.1: An asynchronous sequential circuit

The transition tables are shown in Fig. 13.2.

x
y1y2
00
01
11
10

0
1
1
0

0
0
1
1

x
y1y2
00
01
11
10

0
1
1
0

1
1
0
0

x
y1y2
00
01
11
10

00
11
11
00

01
01
10
10

(a) Map for Y1 = x y1 + x y 2 (b) Map for Y2 = x y1 + x y 2

(c) Transition table
Figure 13.2: Map and transition table of the circuit shown in Fig. 13.1

The transition table shown in Fig. 13.2(c) the value of Y=Y1Y2. The circled
transitions are stable transition since the input y1y2 is the same. The non circled
transition is not stable the output is not same as y1y2. The change of input from
=y1y2x = 000 to y1y2x = 001 will yield output Y = 01, which is not 00. Thus, this
transition is not stable.
The state table for the circuit is shown in Fig. 13.3.
Present
State
0
0
1
1

Next State
x=0
0
1
1
0

0
1
0
1

x=1
0
1
0
1

0
0
1
1

Figure 13.3: State table for circuit shown in Fig. 13.1

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1
1
0
0

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13.1.2 Flow Table

During the design of asynchronous sequential circuit, it is more convenient to
name the states by letter symbols without making specific reference to their
binary values. Thus, using this approach the flow table of Fig. 13.2(c) is shown
in Fig. 13.4 after assign 00 = a, 01 = b. 11 = c, 10 = d.
x
y1y2
a
b
c
d

a
c
c
a

b
b
d
d

Figure 13.4: Flow table shown in letter symbol

Consider a two-state with two inputs and one output flow table shown in Fig.
13.5. The states shown in red color are the stable state.
x1,x2

00

01

11

10

a, 0

a, 0

a, 0

a, 0

a, 0

b, 1

b, 0
b, 0

Figure 13.5: A two-state with two inputs and one output flow table

The transition table and the map of the output are shown in Fig. 13.6.
x1,x2
y
a
b

00

01

11

10

0
0

0
0

0
1

1
1

x1,x2
y
0
1

00

01

11

10

0
0

0
0

0
1

0
0

(a) Transition table for Y = x 1 x 2 + x 1 y

(b) Map for z = x1 x 2 y
Figure 13.6: The transition table and map of the output of flow table shown in Fig. 13.5

The circuit of the design based on the transition table and map shown in Fig.
13.7.

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Figure 13.7: Circuit design based on the transition table and map shown in Fig. 13.6

13.1.3 Race Condition

A race condition is said to be exist in asynchronous sequential circuit when two
or more binary state variables change value in response to change in an input
variable. When unequal delays are encountered, a race condition may cause the
state variables to change in an unpredictable manner. For an example state
variables change from 00 to 11, due to the difference in delay, the change may
take place in two sequences. If the first variable changes faster than the second
variable then the sequence is from 001011. If the second variable changes
faster than the first one then the sequence is 000111. If the final state does
not depend on the sequence taken place then the race is called a noncritical
race. If it is possible to end with more than one state depending on the order of
the state change then it is a critical race, which must be avoided. The transition
table shown in Fig. 13.8 is a noncritical type.
x
y1y2
00
01
11
10

00

11
11
11
11

Figure 13.8: A noncritical race transition

If the initial state is y1y2x = 000, by changing the external input from x = 0 to 1,
the state will change to 111. Depending on the delay, the sequence of transition
can be from 0011, 000111 or 001011.
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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

The transition table shown in Fig. 13.9 illustrates race condition. We start
with state y1y2x = 000 and change the state to y1y2x = 001. It would mean the
final state that would like to be is y1y2 = 11. Depending on the delay time, it can
end with different state. If first variable is responding faster than the second
variable, the state will end with y1y2 = 10, which is a stable state. If second
variable is responding faster than the first variable, the state will end with y1y2 =
01, which is also a stable state. If both first and second variables respond
simultaneously the state will end with y1y2 = 11, which is also a stable state. The
conclusion means that the race condition can cause the final state to be ended
with three possible states.
x
y1y2
00
01
11
10

00

11
01
11
10

Figure 13.9: A critical race transition

Race condition can be dealt with by proper binary assignment to the state
variable. The state variables must be assigned binary number in such a way that
only one state variable can be change at any one time when a state transition
occurs in the flow table. We shall discuss the method in Section 13.5.
Figure 13.10 shows a cycle transition. We start with state y1y2x = 000 and
change the state to y1y2x = 001. The state is a cycle transition from
00011110.

x
y1y2
00
01
11
10

00

01
11
10
01

Figure 13.10 A cycle transition

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13.1.4 Stability Consideration

Owing to the feedback connection that exists in synchronous sequential circuits,
care must be taken to ensure that circuit does not become unstable. An unstable
condition will cause the circuit to oscillate between unstable states. The
transition table method of analysis can be useful in detecting the occurrence of
instability.
An unstable circuit is shown in Fig. 13.11. This circuit has function Y =
X1 X 2 + X 2 y .

Figure 13.11: An unstable logic circuit

The transition table is shown in Fig. 13.12. The cycled values are value that Y =
y. The uncycled values represent unstable state. Example of the unstable stable
is when yx1x2 = 111 which should yield y = 0.
x1x2
y
0
1

00

01

11

10

0
0

1
1

1
0

0
0

Figure 13.12: The transition table of circuit shown in Fig. 13.11

13.2 Analysis of Asynchronous Circuits

The most common asynchronous circuit is the SR flip-flop shown in Fig. 13.13.

Figure 13.13: A SR flip-flop

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If the SR flip-flop is redrawn according to the model shown in Fig. 13.13 i.e.
including the propagation delay, the SR flip-flop shall be as shown in Fig. 13.14.

Figure 13.14: The model of an SR flip-flop with delay

The output Y is not immediately soon after the input y change because there is a
propagation delay between two NOR gates. The Boolean function of output Y is
Y = S + y + R = (S + y) R

(13.3)

Based on equation (13.4), the flow table of the flip-flop is derived and shown in
Fig. 13.15.
Next State
Present
Output
SR Value
State
00
01
10
11
y
Y
Q
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
Figure 13.15: The flow table of SR flip-flop

Those next state values that marked in cycle are stable state. If the state y = 0 is
assigned as A and y = 1 is assigned as B then the state assignment table of the
SR flip-flop is shown in Fig. 13.16.
Present
State
y
A
B

Next State
00

SR Value
01
10
Y
B
A

Output
11

Figure 13.16: State assignment table of SR flip-flop

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Q
0
1

13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

At y = 0 state, changing SR value 11 to 10 will cause Y = B. After the

propagation delay, the input shall be ySR = 110, in which the output Y shall be
settled at B. At y =1 state, changing SR value from 10 to 11 will cause Y = A.
After the propagation delay, the input shall be ySR = 011.
Based on the flow table, the flow diagram of SR flip-flip is shown in Fig.
13.17.

Figure 13.17: The flow diagram of SR flip-flop

Based on the results of state table shown in Fig. 13.16, the Mealy model flow
diagram is shown in Fig. 13.18.

Figure 13.18: Mealy model flow diagram of SR flip-flop

Lets look at a gated D flip-flop shown in Fig. 13.18. The Boolean function of
the output Y is Y = (C D) ((C D) y) = CD + C y + D y = CD + C y , after
delete the redundant Dy that solve race condition known as hazard that will be
dealt later on. Two gated-D flip-flop is used to implement the master-slave D
flip-flop. Thus, its circuit diagram is shown in Fig. 13.20.

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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

Figure 13.19: D flip-flop

Figure 13.20: A master-slave D flip-flop

Boolean function of the master-slave D flip-flop shall be

Ym = CD + C y m

(13.4)

Ys = C y m + C y s

(13.5)

and

The flow table of master-slave D flip-flop is shown in Fig. 13.21.

Present
State
ymys
00
01
10
11

00

00
11

Next State
CD Value
01
10
YmYs

Output
11
10
11

00
11

00
01

Figure 13.21: The flow table of master-slave D flip-flop

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Q
0
1
0
1

13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

If state assignment is made such that S1 = 00, S2 = 01, S3 = 10, and S4 = 11, the
state assignment table including the unspecified entries shown as - shown in
Fig. 13.22.
Present
State
ymys
S1
S2
S3
S4

00

S1
-

Next State
CD Value
01
10
YmYs

Output
11
S3
S4

S4

S1
S2

Q
0
1
0
1

Figure 13.22: State assignment table including unspecified entries of master-slave D flip-flop

The unspecified entries are derived based on the fact that the input must change
one at a time. Thus, the input changes from CD = 10 to CD = 01 for ymys = 01 is
unspecified. Similarly, the input changes from CD = 11 to CD = 01 for ymys = 10
is unspecified.

13.3 Designing Asynchronous Network Circuits

The way to design the asynchronous network circuit is same as how the
synchronous network circuit is designed. The procedure listed below shall be
used when designing the asynchronous network circuit.
Devise a state diagram for an FSM that realizes the required functional
behavior.
Derive the flow table and reduce the number of possible state.
Perform the state assignment and derive the excitation table.
Obtain the next state and output expressions.
Construct a circuit that implements these expressions.
Lets use the design of an arbiter illustration. An arbiter is a hardware that
would decide the request from the digital system to utilize the shared resource
such as a printer connected to two computer systems. If there is a request from
computer 1 to use the printer, the arbiter will process the request and
acknowledge the request if the printer is free. If the printer is busy printing the
computer 2s request, then the arbiter would not assign the printer to computer 1
until printer has printed computer 2s request and computer 2 returns the end of
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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

print signal to the arbiter. The flow diagram of the arbiter is shown in Fig.
13.23.

Figure 13.23: The flow diagram of an arbiter

r1r2 = 00 shall mean there is no request. r1r2 = 01 shall mean B is requesting and
r1r2 = 10 shall mean C is requesting. Output g2g1 are the acknowledged codes of
the arbiter.
The state assignment table of the arbiter is shown in Fig. 13.24.
Present
State
y2y1
A
B
C
D

00

A
A
-

Next State
r1r2 Value
01
10
Y2Y1
B
C
C
B
B
C

Output
11
-

g1g2
00
11
10
dd

Figure 13.24: The state assignment table of the arbiter

For circuit stabilized at B, changing from r2r1 from 11 to 10 should end with
Y2Y1 = C, which is also meant that the value of y2y1 should be changing to 10.
If y2 changes faster y1, then y2y1 should be 11, which is the D state. Since D
state has value Y2Y1 is 10, it will move to the stable C state. If y1 changes faster
than y2, y2y1 shall end with 00 state, which is a stable A state. Thus, there is race
issue here, which is a critical race since its final state depends on propagation
delay. Similarly, from stable C state change r1r2 from 11 to 01 will have the
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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

same race issue like the earlier case. In order to avoid these critical races, one
needs to change the states to state A marked in red to avoiding critical racing.
The modified state assignment table is shown in Fig. 13.25.
Present
State
y2y1
A
B
C
D

00

A
A
-

Next State
r1r2 Value
01
10
Y2Y1
B
C
A
A
B
C

Output
11
-

g1g2
00
11
10
dd

Figure 13.25: State assignment table of an arbiter after avoiding critical race

The next state Boolean function for Y1 and Y2 are Y1 = r1 y 2 and Y2 =

r1 r2 y1 + r2 y 2 . The logic circuit of the arbiter is shown in Fig. 13.26. This
circuit is simpler than the circuit designed with flip-flop and clock pulse
circuitry. The circuit can respond almost instantly and does not wait for
clocking pulse to respond like the case where it is designed using synchronous
approach.

Figure 13.26: The logic circuit of an arbiter

13.4 State Reduction

The procedure for reducing the number of internal states in an asynchronous
sequential network resembles the procedure that used for synchronous network
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circuit. Equivalency pair, implication chart, state assignment, and merging of

flow table are some of the methods used for state reduction. Equivalency pair,
implication chart, and state assignment methods have been discussed in detail in
Chapter 11. Thus, the procedure shall not be repeated here. Only the merging of
flow table method shall be discussed.
The procedure of merging of state table method is as follows:
Determine all equivalency pairs by using the implication chart or other
methods such as equivalency pairs.
Find the maximal equivalency using merger diagram.
Find a minimal collection of equivalency that covers all states and closed.
The minimal collection of equivalencies is used to merge the row of the state
table.
Lets use the design of gated D flip-flop illustrated in Fig. 13.19 as an
example. The state table of the D flip-flop is shown in Fig. 13.27. It is derived
based on Boolean function Y = (C D) ((C D) y) = CD + C y + D y . The
flow table of the state table is shown in Fig. 13.28.
Present
State
A
B
C
D
E
F

Next State
C
0
1
0
1
1
0

D
1
1
0
0
0
0

Output
Q
0
1
0
0
1
1

Figure 13.27: Flow table of gated D flip-flop

Based on the primitive flow table of the gated D flip-flop is shown in Fig.
13.28. The entry with - denotes that it is the Dont care state.

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A
B
C
D
E
F

00
C, 0
-, C, F, -

CD
01
A, A, -, -, A, -

11
B, -, B, B, -, -

10
-, E, D, -

E, -

Figure 13.28: The primitive flow table of gated D flip-flop

Based on equivalency pair criterion, two states are said to be equivalent if they
have the same input and output logic states. This one can see that equivalency
pairs are (A, B), (A, C), (A, D), (B, E), (B, F), (C, D), and (E, F).
Once the equivalency pairs are obtained, the next step is to get the
maximal equivalency state by merger diagram. The merger diagram is a graph
in which each state is represented by a dot placed along the circumference of a
circle. Lines are drawn between any two corresponding dots that form
equivalency pair. All possible equivalency states can be obtained from the
merger diagram by observing the geometrical patterns in which states are
connected to each other. n-state equivalency set is represented by a n-sided
polygon with diagonals connected.
The merger diagram of the equivalency pairs obtained from the above
example is shown in Fig. 13.29.

Figure 13.29: Merger diagram of the example shown in Fig. 13.28

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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

The maximal equivalency states shall be (A, B), (A, C, D), and (B, E, F).
The next procedure is to check the closed covering condition of the
equivalency. If the equivalency set cover all original states then the
equivalencies are considered as closed. Leaving equivalency pair (A, B), (A, C,
D) and (B, E, F) equivalency sets cover all states. It is consider closed covering.
If there is no implied state or if the implies states are includes within the
equivalency set, the equivalency set is considered as closed covering. Leaving
equivalency pair (A, B) is considered closed covering since state A and B are
already covered in (A, C, D) and (B, E, F) equivalency sets.
Consider the merger diagram shown in Fig. 13.29 that has equivalency
pair (A, B), (A, D), (B, C), (C, D), (C, E), and (D, E). Based on the result shown
in Fig. 13.30, the equivalency sets are (A, B), (A, D), (B, C), and (D, E). The
equivalency sets are closed. If removing (A, D) equivalency set is also closed.
But this does not has closed covering because (A, D) equivalency pair is not
covered by the remaining equivalency sets.

Figure 13.30: Merger diagram

13.5 State Assignment

State assignment for synchronous network circuit has the objective to reduce the
logic state. State assignment for asynchronous network is aimed to avoid critical
race.
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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

Race exists in asynchronous network circuit when two or more state

variables change during state transition. A race is considered non-critical if the
correct stable next state is eventually reached during state transition. Take for an
example the partial flow table shown in Fig. 13.31 has non-critical race because
the expected final state of 11 is eventually reached when CD changes from 00 to
01.
Next State
Present
CD Value
State
00
01
10
11
ymys
YmYs
00
11
01
11
10
11
11
Figure 13.31: A partial flow table showing non critical race

When CD changes state from 00 to 01, the output YmYs will change from 00 to
11. However, it depends on whether Ym changes before Ys or Ym after Ys or at
the same time. If Ym changes before Ys, then ymys shall be 10. This will cause
YmYs to transition to 11. This in turns will cause input ymys to change to 11 and
eventually stable state 11 is attained. If Ys changes before Ym, then YmYs shall
be transition to 01. This causes ymys to change to 01 and in turns transit YmYs to
11. Since YmYs is equal to 11 then ymys shall be equal to 11 and eventually
YmYs stays at stable state 11. One can see that the transition is non critical
because the expected final stable state of 11 is eventually reached.
Partial flow table shown in Fig. 13.32 has critical race because the
expected final stable state of 11 may not be reached when CD changes from 00
to 01. It depends on the race condition. If Ym changes after Ys, then YmYs shall
be 01 and the stable state shall eventually be 01. If Ym changes before Ys, then
stable state shall be 10. If both Ym and Ys change at the same time, then the
stable state shall be 11 as expected.

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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

Present
State

00

ymys
00
01
10
11

Next State
CD Value
01
10
YmYs
11

11

Figure 13.32: A partial flow table showing non critical race

Lets consider another condition of race called cycle. A cycle occurs when an
asynchronous network makes a transition through a series of unstable states in
the cyclic manner. An example is the partial flow table of a network circuit
shown in Fig. 13.33.
At stable state 11 conditions, changing CD value from 01 to 11 would
result a cycle race and the network will never attain the stable state condition.
The sequence of YmYs is

Present
State

00

ymys
00
01
10
11

Next State
CD Value
01
10
YmYs
10
01
11
10
01
00
10

11

Figure 13.33: A partial flow table showing cycle race condition

The technique commonly used for making a critical race-free network is state
assignment. State assignments are classified as follows.
Shared state assignment
Multiple row state assignment
One hot state assignment
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13 Asynchronous Sequential Network

Tutorials
13.1. Explain the difference between asynchronous and synchronous sequential
circuits.
13.2. An asynchronous sequential circuit is described by the excitation and
output functions Y= X1 X 2 + (X1 + X 2 ) y and z = y.
(i). Draw the logic diagram of the circuit.
(ii). Derive the transition table and output map.
(iii). Obtain a two-state flow table.
(iv). Describe in words the behavior of the circuit.
13.3. From the transition table of SR flip-flop, show that the circuit is unstable
when all three inputs are equal to 1.

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References
1. Stephen Brown and Zvonko Vranesic, Fundamentals of Digital Logic with
Verilog Design, McGraw-Hill, 2003.
2. M. Morris Mano, Digital Design, Third edition, Prentice Hall, 2002.
3. Donald D. Givone, Digital Principles and Design, McGraw- Hill 2003.
4. John M. Yarbrough, Digital Logic Applications and Design, PWS
Publishing Co., 1997.

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