How Can Multiple ALUs be Connected to Create a Layered Structure?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the configuration and interconnection of multiple ALUs (Arithmetic Logic Units) to create a layered structure for processing data in parallel. The original poster is exploring how to connect several 8-bit ALUs to achieve a specific operational flow, where outputs from one layer feed into the next.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to clarify how to connect multiple ALUs, questioning whether inputs are shared or separate and how outputs from one ALU are utilized as inputs for another. Other participants inquire about the specifications of the ALUs and the intended application, while also discussing the implications of not using certain inputs.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the configuration of ALUs and raising questions about the operational requirements. There is a recognition of potential issues such as propagation delays in a parallel setup, and suggestions have been made regarding the use of registers for synchronization.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the practical aspects of ALU connections, including the handling of unused inputs and the effects of synchronization in a parallel processing environment. The original poster's scenario involves specific arithmetic operations and the flow of data through multiple ALUs, which may require further clarification on the intended functionality.

sjaguar13
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
If I have an 8-bit ALU, how would I hook them up to do the layer thing (I don't know the name)? It's the thing that you start with 4 ALUs, then they go down to 2, then those go down to 1. Are all the inputs for each of the original 4 separate, or do they share some inputs? How to two go down to one? The outputs of one are the As of the next and the outputs of the other are the Bs of the next? What about the count, Zero, and Set? Do they somehow go into the next?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What exactly are you trying to do here? You want to feed the output of two ALUs to one ALU and feed that to the remaining ALU? What's the spec. for these ALUs?
 
The connections between the ALUs will depend on the application you are using them for. What do you want to do with them?
 
I want it to act in parallel. Looking at the 7 8-bit ALUs, I want it to be able to take 4 sets of numbers and get them down to 2 sets. Then, take those 2 sets and get it down to one. If I had 3 and 4, 3 and 5, 2 and 2, 1 and 2, and I select add, I want the first ALU to add 3 and 4 to get 7. Put the 7 into the next ALU. 3 and 5 get added for 8 and it goes down to the next ALU with the 7 for 15. 15 goes to the last ALU. 2 and 2 is 4 and that goes to the ALU along with 3 from 1 and 2. 4 and 3 is 7 and that goes to the last ALU with the 15 for 22, which is the answer.

If the answer from one becomes the input of the next, what about the count, Not B, and basically the other pins do?
 
I see. If you don't need the other inputs, don't use them (set them to ground or something). Simple as that. In real life however, your parallel setup would suffer from propagation delays and whatnot. You can get rid of that however by putting in some registers and have everything synchronized to a clock.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K