The XOR (exclusive OR) gate outputs a high signal only when one of its inputs is high. This experiment demonstrates its working, practical use, and truth table.
Components Required
2-input XOR gate (e.g., 74LS86)
LEDs
Switches
Resistors
Power Supply (e.g., 5V DC)
Breadboard and connecting wires
Multimeter (optional, for testing connections)
Procedure
Follow these steps to build and test the XOR gate circuit:
Place the 74LS86 XOR gate IC on a breadboard. Ensure the orientation matches the pin diagram of the IC.
Connect the Vcc and ground pins of the IC to the 5V and ground rails of the power supply.
Attach two switches to the input pins of the XOR gate, labeled as A and B.
Connect the output pin of the XOR gate to an LED through a resistor to prevent damage to the LED.
Double-check all connections with a multimeter or visually to ensure there are no loose wires.
Toggle the switches to simulate different input combinations and observe the LED's behavior.
Truth Table
The truth table for a 2-input XOR gate is as follows:
Input A
Input B
Output
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
Expected Results
When you toggle the switches, the following behavior should be observed:
If both switches are OFF (0), the LED remains OFF (output = 0).
If one switch is ON (1) and the other is OFF (0), the LED lights up (output = 1).
If both switches are ON (1), the LED turns OFF (output = 0).
This behavior aligns with the XOR logic gate's truth table.
Applications
The XOR gate is a fundamental building block in digital electronics with various applications:
Arithmetic Circuits: Used in adders and subtractors for performing binary addition and subtraction.
Parity Checkers: Used to detect errors in data transmission by comparing parity bits.
Data Encryption: Employed in simple encryption algorithms due to its unique output logic.
Signal Processing: Commonly used in digital signal processing for combining or differentiating signals.
Understanding XOR gates helps in designing and troubleshooting complex digital circuits effectively.
Additional Resources
To learn more about XOR gates and their applications, refer to the following resources:
