Counter circuit having load function

A counter circuit having a load function which is able to speedily yet stably perform counting operations no matter what kind of value has been loaded. The counter circuit having a load function performs counting operations in synchronization with an input clock signal and is able to count from an arbitrary value upon receiving a count initiation value in synchronization with a load signal. The principal composing elements are: at least three counter circuits 1-1.about.1-N, each of which corresponds to a numerical digit; at least one load value monitor circuit 2-i (wherein i is an integer between 3 and N), which detects whether or not load values of the counter circuits 1 corresponding to lower digits are full count values upon input of the count initiation value in synchronization with the load signal, and delays the output of the load signal by one clock period if a full-count value has been detected; and at least one OR circuit 3-i, which receives an output from load value monitor circuit 2-i and a carry output from counter circuit 1-(i-1), then outputs their logical sum to an ET terminal of counter circuit 1-i.

What is claimed is:

1. A counter circuit having a load function which performs counting operations in synchronization with an input clock signal and is able to count from an arbitrary value upon receiving a count initiation value in synchronization with a load signal, comprising:

at least three counter circuits, each of which corresponds to a numerical digit;

at least one load value monitor circuit, each of which detects whether or not load values of the counter circuits corresponding to lower digits are full count values upon input of said count initiation value in synchronization with a load signal, and delays the output of said load signal by one clock period if a full count value has been detected; and

at least one OR circuit, each of which receives an output from one of said load value monitor circuits and a carry output from one of said counter circuits, then outputs their logical sum to an ET terminal of another of said counter circuits.

2. A counter circuit having a load function as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said load value monitor circuits comprises:

a lower digit counter carry generation detection circuit which receives a load value and detects whether or not said load value is such that carry output signals would be output from all of the counter circuits corresponding to lower digits;

a gate element which receives a detection output signal from said lower digit counter carry generation detection circuit at one input terminal and a load signal at another input terminal, then outputs a high-level load signal if said load signal is input while said detection output signal is being output; and

a flip-flop which receives the load signal output from said gate element at one input terminal and an input clock signal at another input terminal, then outputs said load signal after a delay of one clock period.