Saturating Arithmetic

• Saturating arithmetic means that if an overflow occurs, the number is clamped to the maximum possible value.

  • Gives a result that is closer to the correct value
  • Used in DSP, Graphic applications.
  • Requires extra hardware to be added to binary adder.
  • Pentium MMX instructions have option for saturating arithemetic.

$FF+ $01-------- $FF

255+ 1-------- 255

63.75+ 0.25----------- 255

xxxxxxxx.0decimal point to right

xxxxxx.yytwo binary fractional digits.

0.yyyyyyyy decimal point to left (all fractional digits)

0.99600+ 0.00391----------- 0.99600

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