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Full Adder Circuit Design

Digital Logic Systems: From Zero to Hero

20. Full Adder Circuit Design

While a Half Adder can add two bits, it cannot handle a carry-in from a previous stage of addition. The Full Adder (FA) resolves this.

The Need for Carry-In ($C_{in}$)

A Full Adder adds three inputs: the two input bits ($A, B$) and the Carry-In ($C_{in}$) generated by the previous stage.

Inputs: A, B, $C_{in}$ Outputs: Sum (S), Carry Out ($C_{out}$)

Truth Table (3 Inputs)

AB$C_{in}$S$C_{out}$
00000
00110
01010
01101
10010
10101
11001
11111

Deriving Logic Equations

  1. Sum (S): The sum is 1 if an odd number of inputs are 1. $$S = A \oplus B \oplus C_{in}$$
  2. Carry Out ($C_{out}$): The carry is 1 if two or three inputs are 1. $$C_{out} = A B + C_{in}(A \oplus B)$$

Alternatively, a Full Adder can be constructed using two Half Adders and one OR gate.