Digital clock AM/PM control: In the digital clock project, when the time is 11:59:59 and the tens-of-hours equals 1 with enable active, what happens to the AM/PM flip-flop on the next clock pulse?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Toggle

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
A 12-hour digital clock needs an extra bit to indicate AM or PM. The AM/PM flip-flop changes state exactly at the 11:59:59 → 12:00:00 transition. Detecting this boundary in logic avoids accidental toggles at other times and ensures the display reflects morning/afternoon correctly.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • 12-hour format with an AM/PM flag.
  • At 11:59:59, the next tick rolls hours to 12:00:00.
  • Logic detects tens-of-hours=1 and other enables at the rollover boundary.


Concept / Approach:
The AM/PM indicator must flip exactly once per 12 hours. The most straightforward trigger is the hour rollover from 11 to 12. Implementations commonly decode 11:59:59 or use a count-equals condition that asserts a toggle control for the AM/PM flip-flop on the next clock edge as hours advance to 12:00:00.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Detect 11:59:59 at the final second boundary.On next clock, increment time to 12:00:00 and assert AM/PM toggle control.Flip the AM/PM state so the display alternates between AM and PM at noon/midnight transitions.


Verification / Alternative check:
Simulating hours, minutes, and seconds counters will show AM/PM toggling only at the 11→12 rollover. Edge cases (12:59:59 → 1:00:00) do not toggle the AM/PM bit, confirming the decoding is correct.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Set/Reset/Clear/Hold: These actions would force a particular state or no change; we need an alternation every 12 hours, which is a toggle.


Common Pitfalls:
Incorrectly toggling at 12→1 transitions; double-toggling due to bounce-like decode hazards; missing synchronization so the flip-flop toggles off the correct, single clock edge.


Final Answer:
Toggle

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