Demultiplexálás

Demultiplexálás, often shortened to demux, is a process in electronics and digital communications where a single input signal is routed to one of several output lines. This is the inverse operation of multiplexing, which combines multiple input signals into a single output. A demultiplexer is a digital circuit that performs this function. It typically has one data input, a set of select or control inputs, and multiple data outputs. The select inputs determine which of the multiple output lines the data input will be routed to.

For example, a simple 1-to-4 demultiplexer would have one data input, two select lines (since 2^2 = 4), and four output lines. The combination of bits on the select lines dictates which of the four output lines receives the data from the input. If the select lines are 00, the input goes to output 0. If they are 01, it goes to output 1, and so on.

Demultiplexers are fundamental building blocks in digital systems. They are used in various applications, including data routing, signal distribution, and address decoding in computer memory systems. In telecommunications, they are essential for separating combined signals that were previously multiplexed for transmission over a single channel. The ability to selectively route data based on control signals makes demultiplexers crucial for managing and directing information flow in complex systems.