
In this project we examine one of the most               valuable circuits to be invented - the flip               flop. Originally it was designed with VALVES, along with               its simpler version (without the two capacitors - called a               bi-stable Multivibrator), it was realised it could store a               "bit" of information. The bi-stable Multivibrator circuit required               an input pulse to the left side of the circuit and the load (say a               globe) stayed ON when the signal was removed. A pulse to the other               side of the circuit turned the globe OFF. This was the first time an               electronic circuit had stored a "piece of information." This was the               beginning of the COMPUTER AGE.
When you realise each letter               on this page requires 8 circuits like this to store the "bits" you               can see how little each "storage element" can hold. That's why you               need millions of cells similar to the Flip Flop circuit to hold data               for even the simplest application.
RECOGNISING A FLIP FLOP               CIRCUIT
The               Flip Flop is a symmetrical arrangement using two transistors with               cross-coupling. Each transistor has a base bias resistor (10k in our               case) and a LED with 470R resistor in the collector lead to form the               collector load.
The circuit consists of two identical halves               and is called a Flip Flop because one half is ON while               the other half is OFF. The ON half is keeping the OFF half               OFF but it cannot keep it off indefinitely and gradually the OFF               half turns ON via the 10k base-bias resistor.
This drives the ON               side OFF and the circuit changes state. In other words it flips               over. The same events occur in the other half of the cycle and the               circuit eventually flops back again.
This sounds very               complicated but in reality the circuit is quite simple in operation               as one half is exactly the same as the other and there's only 5               components in each half. 
THE FLIP FLOP IS A FREE-RUNNING               MULTIVIBRATOR
The circuit is self-starting and only one LED is on at a               time. It is a free-running multivibrator (this means it does not               stop) and we will describe its operation in a non-technical way. A               free-running multivibrator is also called an astable               multivibrator (meaning is has no stable states) and that is why               it flips from one state to the other continuously.
The               standard way to draw this type of multivibrator is to show the two               capacitors crossing at the centre of the circuit, this also gives               the circuit symmetry and makes it easy to recognise.
The               other way to identify an astable multivibrator is knowing that it               has two capacitors. (The monostable multivibrator has one               capacitor and the bistable multivibrator has no               capacitors.)
In simple terms, the astable [pronounced               (h)ay-stable] multivibrator has two states. When one transistor is               turned on it operates (supplies current to) a LED (or other device)               in its output line and at the same time keeps the other transistor               off. But it cannot keep the other off forever and eventually the               other transistor begins to turn on. When it does, the action turns               the first transistor off slightly and a change-over begins to occur.               This produces the flip action.
After a short period of time the               other half of the circuit cannot be kept off and the whole               arrangement flops back to the first state.
The components               that determine the frequency are the electrolytics and two base-bias               resistors. If these values are changed, the frequency will               alter.
For instance, if the electrolytics are reduced in value,               the frequency will increase and if the resistors are decreased, the               frequency will increase.
If you increase the frequency               of this circuit to more than 20 cycles per second, it will appear as               if both LEDs are on at the same time. But the fact is the circuit               will be operating faster than your eye can see and that's why we               have chosen large values of capacitance to slow it               down.
When the electrolytics and resistors are made               equal value (as in our case), each LED flashes for the same length               of time. This is called an equal mark-space ratio: (50%:50%). This               means the flip time is the same as the flop time.
Theses               components can be changed to any ratio, to give different               effects.























