Floating point to logarithm converter

摘要

A method converts an n-bit floating point number to a logarithmic representation, the number having a first set of bits assigned to a mantissa, and a second set of bits assigned to an exponent. The logarithmic representation has a characteristic and a fraction. The method: (a) sets the characteristic of the logarithm equal to the second set of bits; (b) selects from a logarithm table a first logarithm of a first subset of the first set; (c) selects from the logarithm table a slope of a logarithmic function at the first logarithm; (d) multiplies the slope times a second subset of the first set to obtain an interpolated value; (e) adds the interpolated value to the first logarithm to obtain the fraction; and (f) adds the characteristic and the fraction to obtain the logarithmic representation.