More Stick Diagrams

The stick diagram for a 2 input NOR can be worked out in much the same way as a 2 input NAND.

          _______
             |
            _|
       A_o||
          ||_
             |
            _|
       B_o||
          ||_
             |
            _|_____C
           |   |
          _|   |_
      A_||       ||_B
        ||_     _||
           |   |
           |___|
             |
            ---
            \ /
             v
 
            NOR

Again, start off with 2 horizontal lines, and one vertical line (that crosses both horizontal lines) for each input. Since there are 2 inputs (A and B), there are 2 vertical lines. This will represent the 4 transistors (2 transistors for each input).
 

          |          |
          |          |
   P -------------------------
          |          |
          |          |
          |          |
   N -------------------------
          |          |
          |          |
 
          A          B

In this example, the gates are named A and B. There is nothing wrong with B and A instead. The stick diagram will just look like a mirror image of what this example will result in.

Now look at the transistor level schematic. For the N-FETs, each gate has VSS on one side and C on the other. This means VSS can be placed in the middle and C on the outside, or C in the middle and VSS on the outside. Again, to keep capacitance on the output down, C should be placed in the middle.

          |          |
          |          |
   P -------------------------
          |          |
          |     ____/|\______ C
          |    |     |
   N --x-------x--------x-----
       |  |          |  |
       |  |          |  |
 
      VSS A          B VSS

On the other hand, the P-FETs has output C going through B, then A, and finally to VCC. The stick diagram should be set up the same way.

      VCC
       |  |          |
       |  |          |
   P --x----------------x-----
          |          |  |
          |     ____/|\_|____ C
          |    |     |
   N --x-------x--------x-----
       |  |          |  |
       |  |          |  |

      VSS A          B VSS

This is the stick diagram for a 2 input NOR gate.

The stick diagram for an INVERTER is very simple, since there is only one input.

      VCC                    _
       |  |              B = A
       |  |
   P --x-----x--
          |  |
          |  |__ B
          |  |
   N --x-----x--
       |  |
       |  |

      VSS A



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copyright Michael Lewis, 1999