These synchronous, presettable counters feature an internal carry look-ahead for application in high-speed counting designs. The ’HC161 devices are 4-bit binary counters. Synchronous operation is provided by having all flip-flops clocked simultaneously so that the outputs change coincident with each other when so instructed by the count-enable (ENP, ENT) inputs and internal gating. This mode of operation eliminates the output counting spikes that are normally associated with synchronous (ripple-clock) counters. A buffered clock (CLK) input triggers the four flip-flops on the rising (positive-going) edge of the clock waveform.

These counters are fully programmable; that is, they can be preset to any number between 0 and 9 or 15. As presetting is synchronous, setting up a low level at the load input disables the counter and causes the outputs to agree with the setup data after the next clock pulse, regardless of the levels of the enable inputs.

The clear function for the ’HC161 devices is asynchronous. A low level at the clear (CLR)\ input sets all four of the flip-flop outputs low, regardless of the levels of the CLK, load (LOAD)\, or enable inputs.Read more