After studying this text, you should be able to apply switching theory to the solution of logic design problems.This means that you will learn both the basic theory of switching circuits and how to apply it. After a brief introduction, you will study Boolean algebra, which is the basic mathematical tool needed to analyze and synthesize an important class of switching circuits. Starting from a problem statement, you will learn to design circuits of logic gates that have a specified relationship between signals at the input and output terminals.Then you will study the logical properties of flip-flops, which serve as memory devices in sequential switching circuits. By combining flip-flops with circuits of logic gates, you will learn to design counters, adders, sequence detectors, and similar circuits. You will also study the VHDL hardware description language and its application to the design of combinational logic, sequential logic, and simple digital systems.

The fifth edition offers a number of improvements over the fourth edition. Material in the text has been reorganized to provide a better teaching sequence, and obsolete material has been removed.The chapter on latches and flip-flops has been rewritten. Greater emphasis is placed on the use of programmable logic devices (PLDs), including programmable gate arrays and complex PLDs. New exercises and problems have been added to every unit, and several sections have been rewritten to clarify the presentation. Three chapters on the VHDL hardware description language have been added, and more emphasis is placed on the role of simulation and computer-aided design of logic circuits.

This text is designed so that it can be used in either a standard lecture course or in a self-paced course. In addition to the standard reading material and problems, study guides and other aids for self-study are included in the text.The content of the text is divided into 20 study units. These units form a logical sequence so that mastery of the material in one unit is generally a prerequisite to the study of succeeding units. Each unit consists of four parts. First, a list of objectives states precisely what you are expected to learn by studying the unit. Next, the study guide contains reading assignments and study questions.As you work through the unit, you should write out the answers to these study questions.The text material and problem set that follow are similar to a conventional textbook.When you complete a unit, you should review the objectives and make sure that you have met them.