Experiment 9 - The Edge-Triggered D-Flip-Flop

You could actually rebuild the master-slave circuit by using two DE latches and a NOT gate. Easier is to use IC's already pre-programmed with edge-triggered flip-flops.

The C-MOS IC 4013 contains two edge-triggered D flip-flops.

With the circuit shown, you get to know an edge-triggered D flip-flop. You use not a proper clock signal, however a pushbutton switch (Clk) can illustrate the principle just as well.

Symbol Edge-Triggered D Flip-Flop in Circuit Diagrams.

Circuit of a D flip-flop. In this circuit you connect the unused inputs R and S (Pin 8,10) to 0V using the resistor R1. (Enlarge)

With the push button D, you control the D input of flip-flops. The flip-flop switches at the precise moment in which you push the push button Clk. The Clk signal jumps from 0 to 1 at the rising edge. In all other situations, the flip-flop remains closed.

Besides the D flip-flop, there are more classes of flip-flops...