Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Construct and analyze the operation of a latch flip-flop made from NAND or NOR gates.
  
• Describe the difference between synchronous and asynchronous systems.
  
• Understand the operation of edge-triggered flip-flops.
  
• Analyze and apply the various flip-flop timing parameters specified by the manufacturers.
  
• Understand the major differences between parallel and serial data transfers.
  
• Draw the output timing waveforms of several types of flip-flops in response to a set of input signals.
  
• Recognize the various IEEE/ANSI flip-flop symbols.
  
• Use state transition diagrams to describe counter operation.
  
• Use flip-flops in synchronization circuits.
  
• Connect shift registers as data transfer circuits.
  
• Employ flip-flops as frequency-division and counting circuits.
  
• Understand the typical characteristics of Schmitt triggers.
  
• Apply two different types of one-shots in circuit design.
  
• Design a free-running oscillator using a 555 timer.
  
• Recognize and predict the effects of clock skew on synchronous circuits.
  
• Troubleshoot various types of flip-flop circuits.
  
• Write HDL code for latches.
  
• Use logic primitives, components, and libraries in HDL code.
  
• Build structural level circuits from components.