초록 ▼

The sum of a plurality of logarithmic numbers is determined by expressing the logarithmic numbers as one of a predetermined values. For example, the numbers may be analog values which may be sampled by an 8-bit AtoD converter to be expressed as one of a possible 256 values. The number of occurrences

The sum of a plurality of logarithmic numbers is determined by expressing the logarithmic numbers as one of a predetermined values. For example, the numbers may be analog values which may be sampled by an 8-bit AtoD converter to be expressed as one of a possible 256 values. The number of occurrences for each of the values is accumulated in bins (counters) and the sum is determined by a summation of the logarithmic numbers based on processing of the counts rather than the logarithmic numbers themselves. Bin counts are reduced iteratively by replacing counts greater than 1 by incrementing the count of a proportionately higher value bin until only counts of 1 or zero remain. These counts are then combined to provide only a single counter with a non-zero count value which indicates the accumulated signal strength of the signal strength measurements. The invention may further be provided using single bit memory elements and byte processing with look-up tables. In a further aspect of the present invention enhanced precision signed logarithmic magnitude expressions of numbers are combined utilizing Zech logarithmic values applied iteratively to a most significant and least significant component of the difference in the logmagnitude of the numbers to be combined.

대표청구항 ▼

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.] A method for summing a plurality of logarithmic numbers, the method comprising the steps of:expressing each of the plurality of logarithmic numbers as one of a predetermined number of values;accumulating a number of occurrences of each of the plurality of logarithmi

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.] A method for summing a plurality of logarithmic numbers, the method comprising the steps of:expressing each of the plurality of logarithmic numbers as one of a predetermined number of values;accumulating a number of occurrences of each of the plurality of logarithmic numbers in a plurality of counters, each one of said plurality of counters being associated with one of the predetermined number of values; andreducing a value count of a first one of the plurality of counters having a value count greater than one by decreasing the value count of the first one of the plurality of counters and incrementing a second one of the plurality of counters;wherein said second one of the plurality of counters has an associated one of the predetermined number of values corresponding to a multiple of the associated one of the predetermined number of values of the first one of the plurality of counters.