Understanding the 4017 Decade Counter
Have you ever wondered how devices like digital clocks or frequency counters work? At the heart of many such gadgets is a decade counter, and one of the most commonly used chips for this purpose is the 4017 IC (Integrated Circuit). This IC is a versatile piece of hardware used for counting and sequencing in various electronic applications. What is a 4017 Decade Counter? The 4017 is a 5-stage divide-by-10 Johnson counter with 10 decoded outputs. It’s often called a "decade counter" because it counts from 0 to 9 (a decade) cyclically. Each time a pulse is received at the clock input, the chip redirects its "HIGH" output signal from one pin to the next in sequence. Key Features Counting Range One of the standout features of the 4017 is its ability to count from 0 to 9 in a loop. Versatility This IC can be used for various applications like sequencing, counting, and dividing frequency. Output Pins The chip has 10 output pins, corresponding to the numbers it counts. Whe...