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SLIATE

SRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION

(Established in the Ministry of Higher Education, vide in Act No. 29 of 1995)

Higher National Diploma inEngineering (Electrical)

Second Year, First Semester Examination 2014
EE2109- Computer Hardware
Instructions for Candidates:
Answer only Five (05) questions
All questions carry equal marks.

No. of questions :06

No. of pages
: 03
Time
:Three (03) hours

1.
i. What is a sequential circuit?

(3 Marks)

ii. Briefly explain the types of sequential circuits?

(4 Marks)

iii. How many flip flops are required to construct a decade counter (MOD 10 counter)?
(3 Marks)
iv. Explain how work the master-slave JK flip flop.

(5 Marks)

v. With the help of a suitable diagram, explain the operation of a Positive-Edge Triggered
D Flip-Flop

(5 Marks)
[Total: 20 Mark]

2.
i. What is a memory unit?

(2 Marks)

ii. ROM is a programmable logic device (PLD). What do you mean from the above
statement?
iii. Distinguish between ROM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM.

(2 Marks)
(4 Marks)

iv. A Computer Memory has a capacity of 2048 bytes. Assume you are hired to design a
memory chip to satisfy the above requirement. You are given 128 x 8 RAM chips to
implement this. Identify the requirements of the following.
a)

How many 128 x 8 RAM chips are required to provide a memory capacity of
2048 bytes?

b)

(2 Marks)

How many lines of address bus must be used to access 2048 bytes of
memory?

(2 Marks)

c)

How many lines of these will be common to each chip?

(2 Marks)

d)

How many bits must be decoded for chip select?

(2 Marks)

e)

What is the size of decoder? Draw a block diagram of the decoder (4 Marks)
[Total: 20 Marks]

3.
i. Define a register by its behavior.

(2 Marks)

ii. Parallel in parallel out (PIPO) is one of the shift registers. Describe the operation of
parallel in parallel out (PIPO) shift register.

(4 Marks)

iii. Explain how a shift register can be used as a ring counter using a proper block diagram.
.

(4 Marks)

iv. How is it possible to make a modulo 2 n counter using N-flip flops? Name two types of
such counters.

(4 Marks)

v. A Shift Register is a Multi-bit Register which shifts its stored data by one bit position at
each CLOCK transition. Explain the Shifting process of the Shift Register in 8 clock
cycles.

(6 Marks)
[Total: 20 Marks]

4.
i. What are the characteristics of a combinational circuit?

(2 Marks)

ii. Discuss the difference between a demultiplexer and a decoder (3 Marks)

iii. Using a block diagram construct a 4 X 16 decoder with two 3 x 8 decoders. (4 Marks)
iv. With the help of a truth table explain the working of a half subtractor. Draw the logic
(5 Marks)

diagram using gates.

2
HNDE 2 Computer Hardware 2014 1st semester

v. Design a Multiplexer by using the three variable function given below. (6 Marks)
F (A, B, C) = m (1, 3, 5, 6)
[Total: 20 Marks]

5.
i.
ii.
iii.

List main functions of microprocessor.

(2 Marks)

What is an accumulator?

(3 Marks)

Briefly explain the function of following chip sets.

(4 Marks)

a. North Bridge
b. South Bridge
iv.
v.

What is a system bus? Briefly explain the main components of it.

(5 Marks)

Briefly explain the following I/O buses in the mother board.

(6 Marks)

a. ISA
b. PCI
[Total: 20 Marks]

6.
i. Modem is one of the networking hardware. Briefly explain the function of a modem.
.

(3 Marks)

ii. What is broadcasting? Give two example devices which support broadcasting?
(3 Marks)
iii. Compare and contrast router and bridge device.

(4 Marks)

iv. Briefly explain the following two terms

(4 Marks)

a. WLAN
b. WAP
v. Explain the function of a switch with the help of a diagram. Clearly indicate the data
transmission in your diagram.

(6 Marks)
[Total: 20 Marks]

3
HNDE 2 Computer Hardware 2014 1st semester