A synchronous circuit is a digital circuit in which the parts are synchronized by a clock signal.
In an ideal synchronous circuit, every change in the logical levels of its storage components is simultaneous. These transitions follow the level of change of a special signal called as the clock. Ideally, the input to each storage element has reached its final value before the next clock occurs, so the behaviour of the whole circuit can be predicted exactly. Practically, some delay is required for each logical operation, resulting in a maximum speed at which each synchronous system can run.
To make these circuits work correctly, a great deal of care is needed in the design of the Clock Distribution Networks. Static timing analysis is often used to determine the maximum safe operating speed.
Famous quotes containing the word circuit:
“We are all hostages, and we are all terrorists. This circuit has replaced that other one of masters and slaves, the dominating and the dominated, the exploiters and the exploited.... It is worse than the one it replaces, but at least it liberates us from liberal nostalgia and the ruses of history.”
—Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)