Real-Life NOT Gate: How Does It Work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the functioning of a NOT gate in real-life circuits, particularly in devices like calculators. Participants explore the theoretical and practical aspects of how NOT gates operate, including their implementation using transistors and the implications of signal inversion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants explain that a NOT gate inverts a logic level, turning a 1 into a 0 and vice versa, and discuss its role in ensuring clean digital signals.
  • One participant questions how a NOT gate can convert 0V to 1V, suggesting a common-emitter transistor configuration as a possible explanation.
  • Another participant proposes that real-world circuits may utilize two MOS transistors to achieve the NOT gate function, describing how the transistors operate based on input signals.
  • Several posts introduce humorous concepts like "none gates" and "write-only RAM," with participants sharing jokes and anecdotes related to these ideas.
  • Some participants reference historical context regarding write-only memory, discussing its nature and the joke surrounding its existence in engineering culture.
  • There is a mention of a specific integrated circuit (7404 hex inverter) as a practical example for experimentation.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the ongoing jokes, indicating a desire for clarity on the original topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the basic function of NOT gates, but there are multiple competing views regarding the specifics of their implementation and the humorous concepts introduced. The discussion remains unresolved on the latter topics, as they are largely treated as jokes.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' contributions include speculative or humorous elements that may not directly relate to the technical functioning of NOT gates, leading to potential confusion for those focused solely on the original question.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in digital logic design, circuit implementation, and the cultural aspects of engineering humor may find this discussion engaging.

Nexor
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How does a NOT gate works in a genuine circuit? Like in a calculator?

Thanks in advance,

Nexor.
 
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A NOT gate turns a logic level of 1 into a logic 0, and vice versa. This can be used when a circuit that operates by receiving a logic 0 has need to be operated by a logic 1, for example. A NOT gate is typically the smallest and fastest gate, because with semiconductor circuits it requires the fewest components, so it can also be used as a buffer, and to sharpen signals that are not as digitally clean as some circuits need. A clean digital signal should be logic 0 or logic 1, and not waver around somewhere in between.
 
But how would it work? I mean, a line powered with 1V with a inverter (or NOT gate) in it's path would turn the signal to it's opposite value, which might be 0V, am I right? But how this same inverter would turn 0V into 1V?
 
Nexor said:
But how would it work? I mean, a line powered with 1V with a inverter (or NOT gate) in it's path would turn the signal to it's opposite value, which might be 0V, am I right? But how this same inverter would turn 0V into 1V?
Consider a single transistor in common-emitter configuration. When you put high on the base, transistor opens and pulls down voltage on the collector to 0. When you put low on the base, the resistor between collector and vcc pulls the voltage up to vcc.
The real world circuit in a calculator probably uses two MOS transistors:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_4/chpt_3/7.html
where the low signal opens the top transistor and results in high signal on output, and high signal opens the bottom transistor and results in low signal on the output (during transition, very briefly, both transistors are open)
 
Dmytry said:
Consider a single transistor in common-emitter configuration. When you put high on the base, transistor opens and pulls down voltage on the collector to 0. When you put low on the base, the resistor between collector and vcc pulls the voltage up to vcc.
The real world circuit in a calculator probably uses two MOS transistors:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_4/chpt_3/7.html
where the low signal opens the top transistor and results in high signal on output, and high signal opens the bottom transistor and results in low signal on the output (during transition, very briefly, both transistors are open)

Ohh I think I got it... It's definitely not how I expected though... Thanks :)
 
Now that you have your answer, I have two more for you!

1) What is a none gate?....A gate that can accept all logic levels, no propagation delay, when you put in a 1, you get 0, if you put in a 0, you get 0.!

2) What is a WOR...Write Only RAM?!......A RAM that have infinite storage locations, you can use any logic levels, you can write as fast as possible.

And yes, I invented these two!

Is this out of line even for Christmas Eve?:smile: :smile: :smile:
My big party is tomorrow, I just spent the whole day cooking and setting up the place. Getting a little wacky even with no alcohol!

Merry Christmas

Alan
 
i remember the "write only memory" well - signetics i think.
only IC ever with pins for filament voltage, note 6.
definitely from our era...

http://www.national.com/rap/files/datasheet.pdf

http://www.national.com/rap/Story/WOMorigin.html
merry christmas to all,,

old jim
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I did not know that, that was before my time!
 
yungman said:
Now that you have your answer, I have two more for you!

1) What is a none gate?....A gate that can accept all logic levels, no propagation delay, when you put in a 1, you get 0, if you put in a 0, you get 0.!

2) What is a WOR...Write Only RAM?!......A RAM that have infinite storage locations, you can use any logic levels, you can write as fast as possible.

And yes, I invented these two!

Is this out of line even for Christmas Eve?:smile: :smile: :smile:
My big party is tomorrow, I just spent the whole day cooking and setting up the place. Getting a little wacky even with no alcohol!

Merry Christmas

Alan
1) I think you are referring to the false gate, which will output 0 (false) no matter the input.
2) Whaaat??
 
  • #10
yungman said:
I did not know that, that was before my time!

Oh yeah... The old times...
 
  • #11
Nexor said:
1) I think you are referring to the false gate, which will output 0 (false) no matter the input.
2) Whaaat??

Then call it your invention!

Merry Christmas.
 
  • #12
yungman said:
Then call it your invention!

Merry Christmas.

Noo hahaha, I just said I didn't understand the second question and that the first one might be the false gate.

Merry Christmas to u too :D
 
  • #13
You mean the write only memory? As Jim called it WOM, you can write anything in, but can never read it back!
 
  • #14
yungman said:
You mean the write only memory? As Jim called it WOM, you can write anything in, but can never read it back!

How would it work? Plus, how can it be used?
 
  • #15
Nexor said:
How would it work? Plus, how can it be used?

Merry Christmas! We are all joking!
 
  • #16
Nexor said:
How would it work? Plus, how can it be used?

That's a joke. It's when you have nothing connected to the memory bus. You can do writes, but you can't read anything out. A pun on the read-only memory which can only be read but not written, the write-only memory can only be written to, but not read. Sometimes external devices function as 'write only' memory - e.g. you can connect the LED here and make it blink when you write 1 to this address. It is actually common to treat output operations as memory writes, many CPUs lack any specialized output ports.
 
  • #17
As the article linked says, Signetics placed that WOM datasheet in the April issue of a design magazine as an April Fool's joke, for marketing goodwill. I was a young engineer at the time and it sure appealed to me...

to original poster - google "7404 hex inverter", better yet buy one and experiment...
 
  • #18
The software implementation of write-only memory was invented by programmers long ago.

On VMS it was a device called NLA0:

Any write to this device succeeded immediately. It always read a null string or EOF depending on the mode it was opened with.
 
  • #19
ahhh DEC gear? A programmers dream.

i detest those Intel swapped nibbles.
 
  • #20
You all can't do that with me, I'm just a newbie! XD
 
  • #21
Nexor said:
You all can't do that with me, I'm just a newbie! XD

We don't mean to confuse you. I thought you have your question answered already before I even came in for some Christmas joke! This post just took on a new life from that onward and has nothing to do with you, just a few old timers' joke!
 
  • #22
yungman said:
We don't mean to confuse you. I thought you have your question answered already before I even came in for some Christmas joke! This post just took on a new life from that onward and has nothing to do with you, just a few old timers' joke!

Okidoki :D
 

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