What Makes NAND & NOR Gates Universal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Avichal
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Universal
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the characteristics that define universal logic gates, specifically focusing on NAND and NOR gates. Participants explore the parameters that determine whether a gate can be classified as universal, comparing these gates to others like AND, OR, and XOR gates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the specific parameters that a gate must satisfy to be considered universal, noting that NAND and NOR gates are classified as such.
  • Another participant states that NAND and NOR gates can be used to construct most other types of gates, while AND and OR gates cannot perform inversion, which is suggested as a reason for their non-universality.
  • A participant introduces the XOR gate as capable of performing inversion but argues that it is not universal, suggesting that inversion alone is insufficient as a criterion for universality.
  • There is a suggestion that potential universal gates might need to be evaluated based on their individual properties rather than a single parameter.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the criteria for universality in logic gates, with no consensus reached on a definitive parameter that determines whether a gate is universal.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the properties of gates and their capabilities are not fully explored, and the discussion does not resolve the criteria for universality.

Avichal
Messages
294
Reaction score
0
I had no idea where to post questions related to Boolean algebra and logic gates, so I thought that the logic section would be good enough. If not please move it.

Anyways are there any parameters that a gate must satisfy to be a universal gate. NAND and NOR gates are universal gates while others are not. Whats so special in these gates that make them universal. So are there any parameters such that we look at them and can judge if a gate is universal or not?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
NOR and NAND gates can be used to make most other types of gate, if you use enough of them.

Other gates such as the AND gate cannot, because they cannot do an inversion, no matter how you connect them.

So any desired gates that involve an inversion function can't be made with AND gates (or OR gates either). So, they are not universal gates.
 
What about XOR gates. They can do inversion but they are not universal. So inversion is not a parameter to decide if a gate is universal
 
Well, they must at least be able to do an inversion.

Maybe then potential universal gates have to be evaluated on their individual properties, unless you already know an answer to your own question.
 

Similar threads

Combination Gates: Understanding NAND & NOR in Physics
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Undergrad Why NAND & NOR Gates are Necessary for LATCH Circuits
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Is My Thyristor Gate Driver Circuit Malfunctioning Due to Component Issues?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Quick questions about logic gates (Nand, nor, etc)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Making OR/NOR Gates: Is it Possible? How?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Basic Questions over the function of Logic Gates
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
DC-DC Converter for Gate Driver Circuitry (Electric Motorcycle)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
Making a Logic Circuit: Learn How to Build an OR Gate
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Looking for a Detailed Explanation of How Transistors and Logic Gates Compute
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Comp Sci How does a washing machine make use of digital electronics?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K