Double Logarithmic Arithmetic Technique for Low-Power 3-D Graphics Applications

Abstract

An energy efficient double logarithmic arithmetic (DLA) technique is proposed for 3-D graphics applications. DLA manipulates the logarithmic arithmetic and improves the architecture for the realization of the transcendental functions and the advanced lighting model using energy efficient techniques. The DLA features complete elimination of multipliers in logarithmic domain by using successive logarithmic converters. DLA demonstrates up to 56% reduction in power consumption as compared to the existing techniques. The main advantage of this approach is the ability to perform the complex functions using power-efficient, area-efficient, as well as high frequency design. The proposed technique performs transcendental functions using multiplier free hardware architecture. Moreover, based on nonuniform subdivisions and piecewise linear approximation, novel logarithmic and antilogarithmic converters are also proposed. These converters achieve optimal power consumption as compared to several recent approaches. The proposed converters provide low relative error with less nonuniform subdivisions. Up to 19%, 12%, and 20% reduction in relative error, area, and power consumption are achieved, respectively.