Hi All,
I can understand what an 8 bit binary counter IC does but I don't yet understand why they have a register. What function does this serve?
http://www.futurlec.com/74LS/74LS590.shtml
Electronics Rules!!
Joe

 

Here is one example.

Suppose you wanted to measure and display a rate or frequency whereby you need to count input clock pulses for a time interval of one second.

By latching the counts after the count period is over, you can display the results and at the same time begin counting for the next one-second time interval.