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David Thomas
David Thomas

Posted on • Originally published at circuitdigest.com

Clocked JK Flip-Flops Made Easy: Practical Guide for Electronics Projects

If you've dabbled in digital electronics, you've probably come across flip-flops. Among them, the Clocked JK Flip-Flop stands out. Why? Because it handles all input states gracefully, offers toggle functionality, and can mimic other flip-flops like SR, T, and D. In short, it’s the universal flip-flop every digital designer should know.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything: truth tables, circuit diagrams using NAND and NOR gates, IC implementations, and practical applications.


Clocked JK Flip-Flop Basics

The Clocked JK Flip-Flop (also called JK Latch) differs from a standard SR flip-flop because it requires a clock signal to change state. Its inputs are J and K, behaving like set and reset, but with a twist:

  • When J = K = 1, the output toggles instead of becoming invalid.
  • Outputs change only on the clock edge (rising or falling).

This makes it perfect for counters, frequency dividers, and memory circuits.

Clocked JK Flip Flop Truth Table


Key Features

  • No Invalid States: All input combinations produce defined outputs.
  • Toggle Mode: J = K = 1 toggles output on clock edge.
  • Universal Device: Can emulate SR, T, and D flip-flops.
  • Edge-Triggered: Changes state only on clock transitions.

Truth Table and Working Principle

J K Clock Q (Next State) Q̅ (Next State)
0 0 Q (No change)
0 1 0 1
1 0 1 0
1 1 Q̅ (Toggle) Q (Toggle)

Explanation of States:

  • 00 → Holds previous state (memory).
  • 01 → Resets output.
  • 10 → Sets output.
  • 11 → Toggles output every clock edge.

Tip: If the clock doesn’t change, outputs remain the same.

For a detailed understanding of the advantages, logic diagram, and practical applications refer the complete tutorial on clocked JK Flip Flop

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