Abstract:
An improved method and logic system for adding two decimal numbers which are coded in a four-bit binary form. The method includes generating a propagate carry signal Pi for each of the four bits which is the OR function of the bit inputs, generating a generate carry signal Gi for each of the four bits which is the AND function of the bit inputs, and generating a binary carry C1 for the first bit. The decimal carry for the addition is then generated by a novel carry look-ahead technique by employing these signals: Pi, Gi, and the binary carry C1. The binary coded decimal bit signals representative of the decimal sum are also generated directly from these signals and, hence, the adder differs from prior art decimal adders which first performed binary addition in each bit and then added 6 to these binary sums whenever a decimal carry occurred so as to produce corrected binary signals representative of the coded decimal number. Several systems are disclosed employing this method and include a four-logic level, two-digit decimal adder, a three-logic level, two-digit decimal adder; and a six-logic level, eight-digit decimal adder. The six-logic level, eight-digit decimal adder combines concepts of the disclosed novel method for implementing decimal carries, as well as conventional group carry techniques used in parallel binary adders.