Demultiplexers

Demultiplexers

A demultiplexer, often abbreviated as demux, is an electronic device that takes a single input signal and distributes it to multiple output channels based on a control signal. It is the opposite of a multiplexer, which takes multiple input signals and combines them into a single output. Demultiplexers are commonly used in digital circuits, such as in digital communication systems, memory devices, and microprocessors. The basic function of a demultiplexer is to select one of several output channels based on the value of the control signal. The control signal is typically a binary code that specifies which output channel should be active. The demux then routes the input signal to the selected output channel, while all other channels remain inactive. Demultiplexers can have any number of output channels, although the most common types have two, four, or eight channels. One common application of demultiplexers is in memory devices, where they are used to select a specific memory location for reading or writing data. In this case, the control signal is typically generated by the memory address decoder, which translates the memory address into a binary code that selects the appropriate memory location. Demultiplexers are also used in digital communication systems, where they are used to separate different channels of information that are transmitted over a single communication line. Overall, demultiplexers are an essential component of many digital circuits, allowing for efficient and flexible distribution of signals to multiple output channels.

electronic device, input signal, output channels, control signal, digital circuits

— William Young