National Semiconductor Corporation

Thomas P Harper

Roger Lee Miller

Digital circuits determine multiplicative inverses using look-up tables which, in response to an address signal, provide a signal indicating a multiplicative inverse. The look-up tables store values indicating inverses for numbers between 1 and 2. The circuit factors a value to be inverted as product a power of two and a factor between 1 and 2. An address signal indicating the factor is applied to the look-up table, and the look-up table provides a signal which indicates the inverse of the factor. The signal provided by the look-up table is then converted to the proper scale for the exponent N. Factoring and conversion may be accomplished with logical shifts so that no multiplier is required. The look-up table may be compressed by not storing bits of inverses, which are constant or only change once within the range of the look-up table and by only storing look-up values for every other number within the range of the look-up table. A code bit in each look-up table value permits generation of correct inverses for values not stored.

Circuit and method for determining multiplicative inverses with a

An anti-lock braking system includes a mechanism for releasing a brake and a digital circuit for determining a wheel velocity and controlling the mechanism to prevent the brake from locking. The digital circuit uses a look-up table which, in response to an address signal, provides a signal indicating a multiplicative inverse of a number between 1 and 2. The circuit receives a measured time for a wheel to move a fixed distance and factors the time as product a power of two and a factor between 1 and 2. An address signal indicating the factor is applied to the look-up table, and the look-up table provides a signal which indicates the inverse of the factor. The signal from the look-up table is then converted to the proper scale for the time. Factoring and conversion may be accomplished with logical shifts so that no multiplier is required. The look-up table may be compressed by not storing bits of inverses, which are constant or only change once within the range of the look-up table and by only storing look-up values for every other number within the range of the look-up table. A code bit in each look-up table value permits generation of correct inverses for values not stored.

Anti-lock braking system containing look-up table for determining wheel

An anti-lock braking system includes three integrated circuits (an integrated voltage regulator and two different microcontrollers) which perform different functions but share the tasks of detecting malfunctions and shutting down the system when malfunctions are detected. The two different microcontrollers perform different functions, have different circuitry, and execute different software. Typically, a first microcontroller receives wheel sensor signals, calculates wheel velocities and accelerations, and operates mechanical devices which control braking. A second microcontroller executes the main anti-lock braking software and determines from the velocities and accelerations when brakes should be released. All of the integrated circuits monitor each other and the other elements of the anti-lock braking system to detect malfunctions. Multiple shut down methods are provided so that a single chip failure can be safely handled. The three integrated circuits can be fabricated using different device technologies and design rules so that the operating environment of the anti-lock braking system is less likely to cause simultaneous failures in multiple integrated circuits.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Thomas P Harper