Floyd, Digital Fundamentals, Tenth Edition
C h a pt er 8: C o u n t er s
Experiment 21
The Traffic Signal Controller
Objectives
After completing this experiment, you will be able
to
□ Complete the design of a sequential counter that
is controlled by input variables.
□ Construct and test the circuit from the first ob-
jective.
Materials Needed
7408 quad AND gate
7474 dual D flip-flop
74121 one-shot
74LS153 dual data selector
One 150 (xF capacitor
Two LEDs
Resistors: two 330 Cl, six 1.0 kft, one to be deter-
mined by student
Summary of Theory
A synchronous counter forms the heart of many small
digital systems. The traffic signal controller intro-
duced in Experiments 13 and 17 uses a small syn-
chronous counter to represent each of the four possi-
ble “states” that the output can take. The block
diagram of the system was given in Figure 13—4.
Unlike the counters in Experiment 20, the state of the
counter in the traffic signal controller is determined
by three input variables and two state variables.
When certain conditions of these variables are met,
the counter advances to the next state. The three input
variables are defined as follows:
Vehicle on side street = Vs
25 s timer (long timer) is on = r L
4 s timer (short timer) is on = Ts
The use of complemented variables indicates
the opposite conditions. A state diagram, introduced
in the text, is repeated in Figure 21-1 for reference.
Based on this state diagram, the sequential opera-
tion is described as follows:
1st state: The counter shows the Gray code 00,
representing main-green, side-red. It
will stay in the first state if the long
timer is on or if therej s no vehicle on
the side street (r L + Vs). It will go to
the second state if the long timer is off
and there is a vehicle on the side street
o rLvs).
2nd state: The counter shows 01, representing
main-yellow, side-red. It will stay in the
second state if the short timer is on (Ts).
It will go to jh e third state if the short
timer is off (Ts).
3rd state: The counter shows 11, representing
main-red, side-green. It will stay in the
third state if the long timer is on and
there is a vehicle on the side street
(TiVg). It will go to the fourth state if
the long timer is off or_there_is no
vehicle on the side street (TL + Vs).
163
 T j+ V g
FIGURE 21-1
State diagram.
4th state: The counter shows 10, representing
main-red, side-yellow. It will stay in the
fourth state if the short timer is on (Ts).
It will go to first state if the short timer
is off (T s).
The block diagram in Figure 21-2 further
defines the sequential logic. The input logic block
consists of two data selectors to route the three input
variables (Vs, r L, and Ts) to the flip-flops. This is
shown in more detail in the partially completed
schematic shown in the report. The data selectors
(DS-0 and DS-1) are the 74LS153 chips. The line
selected (C0 through C3) is determined by the
present state (because the flip-flop outputs are con-
nected to the select inputs). Notice the similarity of
this idea to that shown in Experiment 12 for imple-
menting combinational logic with a MUX.
In this experiment, you will design and con-
struct a portion of the system. To make our simula-
tion more realistic, it will be helpful to have the
short timer working. The short timer was con-
structed from a 74121 one-shot in Experiment 17.
The same IC will be used but the trigger connec-
tions will be different since the trigger logic is not
available for this part of the experiment. From the
next-state table, it can be seen that the short timer
should be ON in the second and fourth states (Gray
codes 01 and 10). Triggering will be set up so that
the short timer will trigger on the trailing edge of the
clock, causing it to start in any state. This won’t
matter for this experiment because it is tested only
to move into states 00 and 11. The trailing edge is
used for triggering the short timer because the
outputs change on the leading edge. This avoids a
“race” condition where the clock and states change
together. The triggering for this experiment is
shown in Figure 21-3.
The present state-next state table with input
conditions is shown in Table 21-1 of the report.
Each pair of lines in Table 21-1 represents the two
+5.0 V

+5.0 V
Ts' 2-bit Gray
To state
1L- Input logic decoder
code counter
vs ■
CLK -----------------------
r s : Short timer (4 s)
Tl : Long timer (25 s)
Vs : Vehicle sensor for the side street

FIGURE 21-2
Block diagram of the sequential logic. FIGURE 21-3

164
possible states that the counter could assume. For
example, on the first pair of lines, the counter is in
the first state (Gray code 00) and could either stay in
the first state (Gray code 00) or go to the second
state (Gray code 01), depending on the long timer
and vehicle sensor inputs. Notice that in the first
state (Gray code 00), the next state for Qx requires
that it remain a 0 no matter what the inputs do, so a
0 is entered for the product term for data selector-1
(DS-1). On the other hand, Q0 will be a 1 only if the
long timer is LOW (timed out) and the vehicle
sensor is HIGH (vehicle waiting). Thus, the input
product term for DS-0 is TLVS. As one more
example, notice that in the second state (Gray code
01), the next state for Q0 will be a 1 no matter what
the inputs do, so a 1 is entered in the table.
Procedure
1. Review the Summary of Theory to be sure
you understand the idea for the circuit. The present
state-next state table with input conditions is shown
in Table 21-1 of the report. Three of the inputs for
the data selectors are completed as an example.
Decide what to do with the remaining inputs and
complete the remaining five inputs in Table 21-1.
2. From the inputs determined in Step 1, com-
plete the schematic shown in Figure 21^4- of the
report. Show the inputs to each data selector and the
enable. Note that the select lines of the data selec-
tors are connected to the outputs of the flip-flops.
3. To simulate the inputs, you could construct
the one-shots and the oscillator from Experiment
17. However, to save time and board space, con-
struct only the short timer shown in Figure 21-3.
You will need to compute the value of /?i in order to
make a 4 s timer. Notice that the triggering of the
short timer is different than in the full system for
reasons of simplicity. The long timer and vehicle
sensor are made from SPST switches as shown in
Figure 21-3. A “NOTed” variable, such as TL, is as-
serted when the switch is closed.
4. On the same protoboard as the short timer
and the switches representing the long timer and
vehicle sensor, add the sequential logic in Figure
21-4. The LEDs serve as state indicators. Connect
all inputs in accordance with your design in Step 1.
Set the pulse generator to 10 kHz.
5. The state diagram (Figure 21-1) will guide
you through the inputs required for the sequence in
order to test the circuit. Start by opening the long
timer and vehicle sensor switches (both HIGH).
Place the counter in the first state (Gray code 00) by
placing a momentary ground on the CLR inputs. In
this condition, a vehicle is assumed to be on the side
street (because Vs is HIGH) but the long timer has not
finished the cycle on the main street. Close the long
timer switch. This should immediately cause the
circuit to go into the second state (Gray code 01),
and the 4 s short timer should take over. While the 4 s
timer is on, open the long timer switch again. The
circuit should switch by itself (after 4 s) to the third
state (Gray code 11).
6. If you successfully arrived in the fourth
state (Gray code 10), look at the state diagram and
decide what steps need to be taken to return to the
first state and remain there. Then, use the switches
to move back to the first state. Summarize your
results in the Results and Conclusion section.
For Further Investigation
Assume your boss wonders, “Can you simplify the
traffic signal controller if you eliminate the short
timer and make the clock (pulse generator) operate
at a period of 4 s? Does this have any advantages?
Also, as a second idea, I noticed you triggered the
short timer without using trigger logic, just the
clock. Could you also trigger the long timer this
way?”
Consider both of these ideas (after all, you
shouldn’t ignore the boss). Indicate the circuit mod-
ifications you would suggest in order to accomplish
each. Try putting the first idea into effect by modify-
ing the circuit and testing it again. Then write a
short summary to the boss stating what you think of
her idea.
165
 Report for Experiment 21
Name: D ate:_____________Class: _

Objectives:
□ Complete the design of a sequential counter that is controlled by input variables.
□ Construct and test the circuit from the first objective.

Data and Observations:

TABLE 21-1

Present State Next State

Input Product Term Input Product Term
Qi Qo Qi Qo Input Conditions for Data Selector-1 for Data Selector-0

0 0 0 0 TL + v s
0 0 0 1 t l vs 0 t l vs

0 1 0 1 Ts
0 1 1 1 Ts 1

1 1 1 1 TiV:s
1 1 1 0 TL + v s

1 0 1 0 Ts
1 0 0 0 Ts

167
 DS-1

Q\ Qo
FIGURE 21-4

Results and Conclusion:

Further Investigation Results:

168
Evaluation and Review Questions
1. Why was Gray code selected for the design of the traffic signal controller?

2. What two conditions are required for the counter to stay in the third state (Gray code 11)?

3. Explain what modifications would be needed to make the traffic signal controller cycle through eight
states instead of four states.

4. Suppose you want to build the traffic signal controller using J-K flip-flops instead of D flip-flops. How
should the J and K inputs be connected to allow this change?

5. The B input of the 74121 (Figure 21-3) was connected to a HIGH. Explain why.

6. Assume the traffic signal controller is “locked-up” in the first state (Gray code 00). The light never cycles
to the side street even when a vehicle is present, causing drivers to become extremely annoyed. You test
the vehicle sensor and find that it is HIGH at the input to the 7408 AND gate. Describe the troubleshooting
procedure you would use to identify the problem.

169