Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: unacceptable
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Digital input thresholds specify safe voltage ranges that will be reliably interpreted as logic LOW or logic HIGH. Values that fall into the gap between those ranges create ambiguity, risking metastability or misinterpretation by logic gates and receivers.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The undefined region is intentionally reserved to provide noise margins. Designers should ensure signals transition quickly through this zone and avoid lingering, which can lead to oscillation, increased current draw, or incorrect logic levels, especially with slow edges or heavy capacitive loads.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the specified logic thresholds from the device datasheet.Define valid LOW range: V ≤ VL(max); valid HIGH range: V ≥ VH(min).Recognize that the interval VL(max) < V < VH(min) is not guaranteed to be LOW or HIGH.Therefore this region is unacceptable for steady operation.
Verification / Alternative check:
Check datasheets (e.g., TTL, CMOS families). They explicitly label the middle zone as “indeterminate” or “no-man’s land,” reinforcing that logic must not remain there during normal operation.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Final Answer:
unacceptable
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