What is digital hardware?
Collection of devices that sense and/or control wires that carry a digital value (i.e., a physical quantity that can be interpreted as a “0” or “1”)
- example: digital logic where voltage < 0.8v is a “0” and > 2.0v is a “1”
- example: pair of transmission wires where a “0” or “1” is distinguished by which wire has a higher voltage (differential)
- example: orientation of magnetization signifies a “0” or a “1”
Primitive digital hardware devices
- logic computation devices (sense and drive)
- are two wires both “1” - make another be “1” (AND)
- is at least one of two wires “1” - make another be “1” (OR)
- is a wire “1” - then make another be “0” (NOT)
- memory devices (store)
- store a value
- recall a value previously stored
Source: Microsoft Encarta