counter A clocked digital electronic device whose output takes up one and one only of a number, n , of distinct states upon the application of each clock pulse (see clock ). The output thus reflects the total number of clock pulses received by the counter up to its maximum capacity, n . All n states are displayed sequentially for n active transitions of the clock, the sequence then repeating. Since n clock pulses are required to drive the output between any two identical states, counters provide a “divide-by- n action” and are thus also known as dividers .

A counter whose output is capable of displaying n discrete states before producing an overflow condition can also be ...