Karnaugh Maps

Objectives
This section presents a technique for simplifying logical
expressions. It will:
Define Karnaugh and establish the correspondence between
Karnaugh maps and truth tables and logical expressions.
Show how to use Karnaugh maps to derive minimal sumof-products and product-of-sums expressions.
Introduce the concept of "don't care" entries and show how
to extend Karnaugh map techniques to include maps with
don't care entries.

Reading Assignment

Sections 2.6 and 2.7 from the text

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Karnaugh Maps

Karnaugh Map Definitions

A Karnaugh map is a two-dimensional truth-table.
Unlike ordinary (i.e., one-dimensional) truth tables,
however, certain logical network simplifications can
be easily recognized from a Karnaugh map.
A B Z
0 0 0
0 1 1
1 0 1
1 1 0
Truth Table

Z A
0
B
0 0

1
1
0

Type 2 Map

Type 1 Map

Two-Variable Maps
AB C Z
0 00 0
0 01 1
0 10 1
0 11 0
1 00 1
1 01 0
1 10 0
1 11 1
Truth Table

Z A
B,C
0
00 0

1
1

01

11

10

Type 1 Map

Type 2 Map

Three-Variable Maps
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Karnaugh Maps

A
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

B
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1

C
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1

Z
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

D
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1

Z A,B
C,D
00 01 11 10
00 0 0 1 0

01 0

11 1

10 0

B
Type 1 Map

Type 2 Map

Four-Variable Maps

Truth Table

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Karnaugh Maps

The interpretation of a type 1 map is that the rows or

columns labeled with a variable correspond to region
of the map where that variable has value 1.
A

A
D

C
B
A=1
region

A
D

B
B=1
region

A
D

B
C=1
region

B
D=1
region

Numbering of Karnaugh Map Squares.

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Z A
0
B
0 0

1
2

Z A
B,C
0
00 0

1
4

Z A,B
C,D
00 01 11 10
00 0 4 12 8

01

01 1

13 9

11

11 3

15 11

10

10 2

6 14 10

Karnaugh Maps

 Exercise: Plot the following expression on a Karnaugh map.

Z = (AB)(C+D)
A
Z = AB(C+D)' + (AB)'(C+D)

= ABC'D' + (A'+B')(C+D)
= ABC'D' + A'C + A'D + B'C + B'D

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Karnaugh Maps

Minimal Sum-Of-Products Expressions

Ordering of Squares

The important feature of the ordering of squares is that the

squares are numbered so that the binary representations for
the numbers of two adjacent squares differ in exactly one
position.
This is due to the use of a Gray code (one in which adjacent

numbers differ in only one position) to label the edges of a type 2

map.

The labels for the type 1 map must be chosen to guarantee this

property.

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Note that squares at opposite ends of the same row or

column also have this property (i.e., their associated
numbers differ in exactly one position).

Karnaugh Maps

Merging Adjacent Product Terms

Z
Z

A
0

= (A'+A)BC'D
= 1BC'D

= BC'D
A'
B
C'
D
A
B
C'
D

= m5 + m13
= A'BC'D + ABC'D

B
C'
D

Example
A B C'

A' C D
C

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Karnaugh Maps

For k-variable maps, this reduction technique can also

be applied to groupings of 4,8,16,...,2k rectangles all
of whose binary numbers agree in (k-2),(k-3),(k4),...,0 positions, respectively.
Z

A
0

Z=
=
=
=
=
=

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m5 + m7 + m13 + m15
A'BC'D + A'BCD + ABC'D + ABCD
(A'C' + A'C + AC' + AC) (BD)
(A'(C' + C) + A(C' + C)) (BD)
(A' + A) (BD)
BD

Karnaugh Maps

Basic Karnaugh Map Groupings for Three-Variable

Maps.
Z1

Z3

Z5

C
B

Z2

Z4

A
1

1
1

Z6

A
1

1
B

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C
B

Karnaugh Maps

Basic Karnaugh Map Groupings for Four-Variable

Maps.
Z7

Z8

Z9

Z10

1
1

1
C

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Z12

B
A
1

A
1

Z14

1
D

1
B

10

A
1

Z13

C
B

B
Z11

D
C

1
D

1
B

Karnaugh Maps

Z15

Z16

Z17

1
1

D
C

C
B

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1
B

11

Z20

A
1

Z19

A
1

Z18

A
1

1
B

Karnaugh Maps

Rules for Grouping:

The number of squares in a grouping is 2i for some i such

that 1 i k.
There are exactly k-i variables that have constant value for
all squares in the grouping.

Resulting Product Terms:

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If X is a variable that has value 0 in all of the squares in the

grouping, then the literal X' is in the product term.
If X is a variable that has value 1 in all of the squares in the
grouping, then the literal X is in the product term.
If X is a variable that has value 0 for some squares in the
grouping and value 1 for others, then neither X' nor X are
in the product term.
12

Karnaugh Maps

 Invalid Karnaugh Map Groupings.

loop 1

D
C

loop 2
D

Violates Rule 1

Violates Rule 2

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13

Karnaugh Maps

In order to minimize the resulting logical expression,

the groupings should be selected as follows:

Identify those groupings that are maximal in the sense that

they are not contained in any other possible grouping. The
product terms obtained from such groupings are called
prime implicants.
A distinguished 1-cell is a cell that is covered by only one prime

implicant.

An essential prime implicant is one that covers a distiquished 1-

cell.

Use the fewest possible number of maximal groupings

needed to cover all of the squares marked with a 1.

Examples:

#1
C
#4

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#2

B
14

#3
Karnaugh Maps

#4
C

#3

#2

#5

#3

#4
D
C
#1

A
1

#5

a. Non-minimal
Product Terms

#2

#3

D
C
#1

A
1

#4

#2

D
#1

b. Non-minimal Selection
of Prime Implicants

c. Minimal
Grouping

a. Z = ABD+AB'C'+A'BC'+A'CD+A'B'D'
b. Z = BD+AB'C'+A'BC'+A'CD+A'B'D'
c. Z = BD+AB'C'+A'C'D'+A'B'C
W3

W3

D
C

a. W3 = C'D+AC'+BC+A'B'D'
b. W3 = BD+AB+B'C'+A'CD'
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15

Karnaugh Maps

Exercise: Derive minimal sum-of-products logical

expressions from the following Karnaugh maps.
X

D
C

X = AB + A'B'D' + A'B'C + BCD'

Y = A'C' + ACD' + ABC + BC'D'

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16

Karnaugh Maps

Minimal Product-Of-Sums Expressions

Merging Adjacent Product Terms.
Z

A
1

A'
B'
C'
A
B'
C'

B'
C'

OR-AND Networks

Karnaugh Map

M3M7 = (A+B'+C')(A'+B'+C')
= (AA')+(B'+C')
= 0 + (B'+C')
= B' + C'

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17

Karnaugh Maps

Rules for Grouping:

Same as for sum-of-products, except that zero's are

grouped instead of ones.

Resulting Sum Terms:

If variable X has value 0 for all squares in the group, then

the literal X is in the sum term.
If variable X has value 1 for all squares in the group, then
the literal X' is in the sum term.
If variable X has value 0 for some squares in the group and
value 1 for the others, then that variable does not appear in
the sum term.

Prime Implicate:

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Maximal grouping of zeros.

18

Karnaugh Maps

Examples:
Z B'+C+D
A+D'

A'+B+C'+D

Z = (A+D')(B'+C+D)(A'+B+C'+D)
Z1

Z2

D
C

Z1 = (A+B'+D)(B+C+D')(A+B+D')
Z2 = D'(A+B')(B'+C')
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19

Karnaugh Maps

Comparison of Sum-of-Products and Product-ofSums Expressions.

Z1

Z1

A
1

D
C

A
1

Z1 = (A+B')(A+D')(B'+D')(A'+B+C)
Z1 = (ABD') + (AB'C) + (A'B'D')

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20

Karnaugh Maps

10

Exercise: Derive minimal SOP and POS expressions

from the following Karnaugh maps.
X

A
1

A
1

B
D
1

D
C

X = BD' + AC' + AD' + BC'

Y = (B' + D') (A' + C')

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21

Karnaugh Maps

Don't Care Entries

Assignment of Values to Don't Care Entries.
Z

C
B

C
B

C
B

Z = B'+A'C Z = AB'+B'C'
Z

A
0

D
C

A
1

Z = BC + AD'

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Z = B'

Z = (C+D')(A'+B')

22

Karnaugh Maps

11

Minterm and Maxterm Lists with Don't Care Entries.

A,B,C(0,d1,d3,4,5) and A,B,C(d1,2,d3,6,7)
A,B,C(6,7,8,d10,d11,d12,d13,d14,d15)
A,B,C(0,1,2,3,4,5,9,d10,d11,d12,d13,d14,d15)

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23

Karnaugh Maps

Five- and Six-Variable Maps

Five-Variable Maps.

0
1
D

3
2

12

B
8

7
6

13 9
E
15 11
14 10

B
16 20 28 24
17 21 29 25
E A
D 19 23 31 27
18 22 30 26

B
0

12 8

13 9

15 11

14 10
C

B
16 20 28 24
E
D

17 21 29 25

19 23 31 27
18 22 30 26
C
A

Five-Variable Map Structure

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Alternate Version of Five-Variable Map

24

Karnaugh Maps

12

Six-Variable Maps
C
12 8
1
5 13 9
F
3
7 15 11
E
2
6 14 10
0

C
16 20 28 24
17 21 29 25
F
E 19 23 31 27
18 22 30 26

12 8

13 9

15 11

16 20 28 24
17 21 29 25

F
E

14 10
D

18 22 30 26
D

33 37 45 41
A

49 53 61 57

35 39 47 43

48 52 60 56

32 36 44 40

C
48 52 60 56
49 53 61 57
F
E 51 55 63 59
50 54 62 58

19 23 31 27

34 38 46 42

F A

51 55 63 59

50 54 62 58
D

C
32 36 44 40
33 37 45 41
F
E 35 39 47 43
34 38 46 42

Alternate Version of Six-Variable Map

Six Variable Map Structure

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25

Karnaugh Maps

Examples.
Z

B' C' E'

D

E
BE

C
A

Z = B'C'E'+BE
Z

C
A

A'B'D + CE + ABD + BD'E'

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26

Karnaugh Maps

13

C
A

Z = (B+C)(B+E(A'+D+E)(A+C+E)
Z

C
A

Z = BC + D

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27

Karnaugh Maps

Timing Hazards
Exercise: Draw a timing diagram for the following
circuit assuming an equal unit delay for each gate.
X

A
B

A
B
X
Y

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28

Karnaugh Maps

14

Static 1 hazards
A=1
S

P
NS

B=1
S
P
NS
Q
Z

0 spike, static 1 hazard

Without the delay in the gates, the output Z would be

constant at 1.
The spike is due to the gate delay and the fact that not
every path from on input to the output is the same length.

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29

Karnaugh Maps

There is a simple way to prevent the hazards using

Karnaugh maps.
A
Z
S

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The hazard occurs when the output is 1 before and after the
transition.
It happens because one of the AND gates is holding the
output 1 before the transition and the other AND gate holds
it 1 after the transition. The spike occurs if it is possible for
the first to turn off before the second turns on.
This can happen anytime there are to adjacent squares on
the Karnaugh map that are both 1 and not both covered by
a common loop. The hazard occurs in making a transition
from one square to the other.
The way to prevent it is to put in an extra product term that
is 1 on both sides of the transition. On the Karnaugh map
this is a loop covering the two adjacent one squares.
30

Karnaugh Maps

15

The loop added to prevent the hazard is redundant and not

needed to realize the logical expression. Its only purpose is
to prevent the hazard.
A
S
Z

This technique will avoid all static 1 hazards if only one

variable is changed at a time.
It is not possible to get a 1 spike from a 2-level AND-OR
network by changing only one variable. Why?

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31

Karnaugh Maps

Static 0 hazard
S
A=0
S

P
NS

B=0

1 spike, static 0 hazard

The static 0 hazard is caused by two OR

gates where one holds the output zero before the transition and the other after the
transition, and it is possible for them to both be 1 during the transition
The fix is to put in an extra OR gate to hold the output zero during the
transition

A
S

A
0

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32

Karnaugh Maps

16

Hazards can frequently be ignored. If the signal Z

above is not used during the transition, then we don't
care if it has a spike.
When a signal is used as the input to a flip-flop, it is
only sampled with the clock makes a transition.
Therefore, if we can make sure that any spikes occur
at some other time, they will not be a problem.

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33

Karnaugh Maps

17