the auto - sequenced state machine according to the present invention has a programmable state duration which is independent from the logic speed , it may be adapted to any moore state machine and may operate in metastability occurrence of the latches of the state machine . the programming of a granularity of half a clock cycle provides a performance optimization by using a system of two clocks which are in opposite phase . moreover , the state duration may be programmable on line . the auto - sequenced state machine is composed of a basic moore state machine to which is connected a device comprising a current state decoder which decodes the current state signals q from the moore state machine in order to select one of the biphase state timers and one of the state timing programming circuits , and an or circuit which receives the terminal counts issued from the current selected biphase state timer and generates the final current terminal count to the latches of moore state machine .