Welcome back to another installment of the Circuits & Systems blog. This week we’re looking at logic blocks, which are a little more complicated than anything we’ve discussed so far. If you’ve ever played around with programming, you probably have an idea already – but whether you have or not, don’t worry! We’re here to explain them to you.
So what’s included in these blocks?
Logic blocks include the Logic AND, the Logic OR and the Logic NOT.
How does the logic AND block work?
The AND block performs the logical AND operation on its inputs. This means it will not output a signal unless both of its inputs are active.
In the case that both of its inputs are set at different values, it will output a signal of the highest received value.
So ultimately, it outputs the higher value input signal between two inputs so long as both of 2 inputs are active.
How does the logic OR block work?
The OR block performs the logical OR operation on its inputs, which means it will output a signal if either of its inputs are charged – this could mean just one, not both.
In the case that both of its inputs are charged but at different strength values, it will output the higher value between the two input signals.
How does the logic NOT block work?
The NOT block performs the logical NOT operation on its input.
Essentially, if there’s an incoming signal value higher than 1, it will become 0. And if there’s an incoming signal value of 0, it will make it 1. Simple!
What can I make with them?
A lot of things! At the lower limits, you could make combination locks – either as a puzzle, or to keep people out! And at the upper limits, you could potentially make a computer. There’s really lots of opportunities with circuits and systems, so start thinking about it…
We’re off for a few weeks so check back in the new year for more Circuits & Systems content!