A multiplexer, abbreviated mux, is a device that has multiple inputs and one output.
The schematic symbol for multiplexers is
The truth table for a 2-to-1 multiplexer is
| I1 | I0 | A | D |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Using a 1-to-2 decoder as part of the circuit, we can express this circuit easily.
Multiplexers can also be expanded with the same naming conventions as demultiplexers. A 4-to-1 multiplexer circuit is
That is the formal definition of a multiplexer. Informally, there are a lot of confusions. Both demultiplexers and multiplexers have similar names, abbreviations, schematic symbols and circuits, so confusion is easy. The term multiplexer, and the abbreviation mux are often used to also mean a demultiplexer, or a multiplexer and a demultiplexer working together. So when you hear about a multiplexer, it may mean something quite different.
RELATED WORKSHEET:
In Partnership with Samtec
by Dale Wilson
I couldn’t quite understand Multiplexers by reading this. Can you give a little bit detail to it?