DIGITAL DESIGN AND

COMPUTER ORGANIZATION
Boolean Functions
Reetinder Sidhu
Department of Computer Science and
Engineering
DIGITAL DESIGN AND
COMPUTER ORGANIZATION

Boolean Functions

Reetinder Sidhu
Department of Computer Science and
Engineering
DIGITAL DESIGN AND COMPUTER ORGANIZATION
Course Outline

Digital Design
I Combinational logic design
F Boolean Functions
I Sequential logic design
Computer Organization
I Architecture (microprocessor instruction set)
I Microarchitecure (microprocessor operation)
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a
(mathematical)
function?
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a
(mathematical)
function?
I Example: Parabola
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a
(mathematical)
function?
I Example: Parabola
I Domain and range are
set of real numbers
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a
(mathematical)
function?
I Example: Parabola
I Domain and range are
set of real numbers
I Specified on Cartesian
Plane
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a
(mathematical)
function?
I Example: Parabola
I Domain and range are
set of real numbers
I Specified on Cartesian
Plane
I Specified as a box:
x x2
f (x) = x 2
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a What is a Boolean function?

(mathematical)
function?
I Example: Parabola
I Domain and range are
set of real numbers
I Specified on Cartesian
Plane
I Specified as a box:
x x2
f (x) = x 2
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a What is a Boolean function?

(mathematical) I Example: AND function/gate
function?
I Example: Parabola
I Domain and range are
set of real numbers
I Specified on Cartesian
Plane
I Specified as a box:
x x2
f (x) = x 2
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a What is a Boolean function?

(mathematical) I Example: AND function/gate
function? I A functions whose domain and range are the set {0, 1}
I Example: Parabola
I Domain and range are
set of real numbers
I Specified on Cartesian
Plane
I Specified as a box:
x x2
f (x) = x 2
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a What is a Boolean function?

(mathematical) I Example: AND function/gate
function? I A functions whose domain and range are the set {0, 1}
I Example: Parabola I Specified as a truth table:
I Domain and range are a b y
set of real numbers 0 0 0
I Specified on Cartesian 0 1 0
Plane 1 0 0
I Specified as a box: 1 1 1
x x2
f (x) = x 2
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean Function?
You have learnt logic gates and truth tables in your first year
I What are they? Where do they come form?

What is a What is a Boolean function?

(mathematical) I Example: AND function/gate
function? I A functions whose domain and range are the set {0, 1}
I Example: Parabola I Specified as a truth table:
I Domain and range are a b y
set of real numbers 0 0 0
I Specified on Cartesian 0 1 0
Plane 1 0 0
I Specified as a box: 1 1 1
x x2 I Specified as a logic gate:
f (x) = x 2 a y
b
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables
Inputs and outputs of Boolean
function are from the set {0, 1}
I 0 and 1 are called Boolean constants
In general, inputs and outputs of
mathematical functions are
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
I Inputs and outputs of Boolean
functions are called Boolean variablesa
(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
I Inputs and outputs of Boolean a y
functions are called Boolean variablesa b
(like a, b and y) Boolean variables
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
I Inputs and outputs of Boolean a y
functions are called Boolean variablesa b
(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a 0 0 y
b 0
I

functions are called Boolean variablesa

(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a 0 0 y
b 1
I

functions are called Boolean variablesa

(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a 1 0 y
b 0
I

functions are called Boolean variablesa

(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a 1 1 y
b 1
I

functions are called Boolean variablesa

(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
 BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Boolean function?
Boolean Constants and Variables What does the Truth Table Mean?
Inputs and outputs of Boolean a b y
function are from the set {0, 1} 0 0 0
0 and 1 are called Boolean constants 0 1 0
I

In general, inputs and outputs of 1 0 0

mathematical functions are
1 1 1
represented by variables (like y = x 2 )
I Inputs and outputs of Boolean a y
functions are called Boolean variablesa b
(like a, b and y)
a
Also called binary variables in your textbook.
The truth table for and n input function
contains 2n rows
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
Basic Functions / Gates

Boolean function / gate name: Boolean function / gate name:

BUFFER NOT
Truth table: Truth table:
a y
0 0 a y
1 1 0 1
Symbol: 1 0
a y Symbol:
a y
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
Basic Functions / Gates
Boolean Boolean Boolean Boolean
function / function / function / function /
gate name: gate name: gate name: gate name:
AND OR NAND NOR
Truth table: Truth table: Truth table: Truth table:
a b y a b y a b y a b y
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0
1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
Symbol: Symbol: Symbol: Symbol:
a y a y a y a y
b b b b
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
Basic Functions / Gates
Boolean function / gate name: Boolean function / gate name:
XOR XNOR
Truth table: Truth table:

a b y a b y
0 0 0 0 0 1
0 1 1 0 1 0
1 0 1 1 0 0
1 1 0 1 1 1
Symbol: Symbol:
a y a y
b b
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?

Abstract mathematical level

a b y
0 0 1
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0
I A two input NAND gate can denote a Boolean function which can be specified as a truth table
I Logic minimization is a task during which gates are typically thought of as Boolean functions
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?

Logic design level

a y
b
I A two input NAND gate can denote a component in a logic circuit (may be optionally associated
with a value that specifies the gate delay)
I Such a view of a logic gate is useful during design and analysis of digital circuits
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
VLSI design level (standard CMOS implementation)
VDD

y
a

I A two input NAND gate can be represented by a transistor level circuit diagram
I The circuit functions in a digital manner with the transistors acting as switches which are typically
in on or off state
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
VLSI layout level
VDD

B A

OUT

VSS

METAL1 N DIFFUSION

POLY P DIFFUSION

CONTACT N-WELL

Source: Wikimedia

I A VLSI designer (“silicon programmer”) specifies layout of various layers (silicon, metal etc.) that
compose the required logic
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
VLSI fabrication level

Source: Wikimedia

I A “chip” (integrated circuit) such as an Intel microprocessor is fabricated in a VLSI fab and may have
more than a billion gates on it
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
To summarize:

Depending on the context (level of abstraction) the term “logic gate” could refer to
any of the above interpretations
The Boolean function and gate levels, and aspects of VLSI design and layout levels,
are in the domain of computer science and engineering
This course will primarily focus on the Boolean function and gate levels
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
Is a logic gate. . .

a Boolean function?
a digital electronic circuit?
BOOLEAN FUNCTIONS
What is a Logic Gate?
Is a logic gate. . .

a Boolean function?
a digital electronic circuit?
It is both
I This wonderful fact enables us to create the machines that perform mathematics, which we call
computers