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  3. Computer Architecture : is 0 really 0 ?

Computer Architecture : is 0 really 0 ?

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  • U User 10929916

    in computers' circuits is the bit 0 really represented by no currency or it is a small signal that the computer is made to treat as 0 ? thank a lot !

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    Gizz
    wrote on last edited by
    #12

    You can check the spec sheets for processors, generally these days they run on less than 5V, more like 3.3V or less. A range 0V through 1.5V will be treated as 0, and 1.5V to 3.3V will be treated as a 1. Docs like this [^] will help (table 3 - min high level, max low level)

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    • U User 10929916

      in computers' circuits is the bit 0 really represented by no currency or it is a small signal that the computer is made to treat as 0 ? thank a lot !

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      L Offline
      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #13

      Both 0 and 1 in a chip are usually represented by a voltage rather than a current, because they're made out of FETs instead of BJTs. Anyway, a closed transistor doesn't reach infinite resistance, not even the silicon oxide around it has infinite resistance, so you'll always have some non-zero voltage (and current).

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      • R Rob Philpott

        -5v? I can't see how you can have tristate binary. What sort of logic was this?

        Regards, Rob Philpott.

        J Offline
        J Offline
        Jeremy Falcon
        wrote on last edited by
        #14

        Rob Philpott wrote:

        -5v? I can't see how you can have tristate binary. What sort of logic was this?

        Quantum computers use tri-state binary.

        Jeremy Falcon

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        • R Rob Philpott

          Certainly, at a software level. But I've yet to see any sort of bus that uses three logic levels.

          Regards, Rob Philpott.

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          J Offline
          Jeremy Falcon
          wrote on last edited by
          #15

          Rob Philpott wrote:

          Certainly, at a software level. But I've yet to see any sort of bus that uses three logic levels.

          Check out what a qubit is for quantum_computers[^]. It's the future of tech, at a really early stage though.

          Jeremy Falcon

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          • B Bergholt Stuttley Johnson

            the 205 from Kings Cross to Paddington via the Mall? [edit] to put correct bus number before I was corrected[/edit]

            You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

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            R Offline
            Rob Philpott
            wrote on last edited by
            #16

            Bergholt Stuttley Johnson wrote:

            [edit] to put correct bus number before I was corrected[/edit]

            I try to avoid buses as they're always full of 'them', so have no ideas about numbers. That said, bearing in mind all you have to do is follow the Euston Road to make such a journey it surprises me that you take The Mall in on the way. Either way, I'm reasonably sure that they don't use -5v.

            Regards, Rob Philpott.

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            • J Jeremy Falcon

              Rob Philpott wrote:

              -5v? I can't see how you can have tristate binary. What sort of logic was this?

              Quantum computers use tri-state binary.

              Jeremy Falcon

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              R Offline
              Rob Philpott
              wrote on last edited by
              #17

              Yeah, perhaps out of scope of the original question. Quantum computers do my head in. Witchcraft, I tell you!

              Regards, Rob Philpott.

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              • R Rob Philpott

                -5v? I can't see how you can have tristate binary. What sort of logic was this?

                Regards, Rob Philpott.

                P Offline
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                PIEBALDconsult
                wrote on last edited by
                #18

                Chuck Norris has a three-state one-two punch.

                You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

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                • R Rob Philpott

                  -5v? I can't see how you can have tristate binary. What sort of logic was this?

                  Regards, Rob Philpott.

                  V Offline
                  V Offline
                  Vivi Chellappa
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #19

                  There is a problem with ternary logic. "Bit" is short for "binary digit". What would you shorten "ternary digit" to? The problem is equally terminological as technical! PS. In the UK, I am aware that a tit is a kind of bird.

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                  • U User 10929916

                    in computers' circuits is the bit 0 really represented by no currency or it is a small signal that the computer is made to treat as 0 ? thank a lot !

                    C Offline
                    C Offline
                    CPallini
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #20

                    Usually the logical levels are represented by voltages, not currents. You may have either active-higth or active-low signals, see Logic Level at Wikipedia[^].

                    THESE PEOPLE REALLY BOTHER ME!! How can they know what you should do without knowing what you want done?!?! -- C++ FQA Lite

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                    • Z ZurdoDev

                      Depends on the chip. Some read -5V as 0 and +5V as 1. Some are tri-state using -5V, 0, and +5V. It's actually voltage and not current that it is using. At least the chips I worked with years ago were that way. [Edit] And yes, some chips used 0V as 0 and +5 as 1. [/Edit]

                      There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

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                      N Offline
                      Nish Nishant
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #21

                      That was some pretty good info. Thanks :-)

                      Regards, Nish


                      Check out 7 reasons C++ devs will love the VS 14 CTP by Nish Sivakumar Blog: voidnish.wordpress.com

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                      • V Vivi Chellappa

                        There is a problem with ternary logic. "Bit" is short for "binary digit". What would you shorten "ternary digit" to? The problem is equally terminological as technical! PS. In the UK, I am aware that a tit is a kind of bird.

                        G Offline
                        G Offline
                        glennPattonWork3
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #22

                        Quote:

                        PS. In the UK, I am aware that a tit is a kind of bird.

                        Amongst other things yes. ;)

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                        • J Jeremy Falcon

                          Rob Philpott wrote:

                          -5v? I can't see how you can have tristate binary. What sort of logic was this?

                          Quantum computers use tri-state binary.

                          Jeremy Falcon

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                          A Offline
                          Andy Brummer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #23

                          I thought it was just a complex superposition of 2 states, which ends up giving you 3 dimensions to work in so you can get things like 30 degrees away from true. :-D

                          Curvature of the Mind now with 3D

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                          • R Rob Philpott

                            Bergholt Stuttley Johnson wrote:

                            [edit] to put correct bus number before I was corrected[/edit]

                            I try to avoid buses as they're always full of 'them', so have no ideas about numbers. That said, bearing in mind all you have to do is follow the Euston Road to make such a journey it surprises me that you take The Mall in on the way. Either way, I'm reasonably sure that they don't use -5v.

                            Regards, Rob Philpott.

                            B Offline
                            B Offline
                            Bergholt Stuttley Johnson
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #24

                            24v 64hp London Omnibus

                            You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.

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                            • V Vivi Chellappa

                              There is a problem with ternary logic. "Bit" is short for "binary digit". What would you shorten "ternary digit" to? The problem is equally terminological as technical! PS. In the UK, I am aware that a tit is a kind of bird.

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              PIEBALDconsult
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #25

                              Vivic wrote:

                              tit is a kind of bird

                              Nah, it's what birds have two of.

                              You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

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                              • C CPallini

                                Usually the logical levels are represented by voltages, not currents. You may have either active-higth or active-low signals, see Logic Level at Wikipedia[^].

                                THESE PEOPLE REALLY BOTHER ME!! How can they know what you should do without knowing what you want done?!?! -- C++ FQA Lite

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                                PIEBALDconsult
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #26

                                CPallini wrote:

                                voltages, not currents

                                Yes, but can you have one without the other?

                                You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

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                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  CPallini wrote:

                                  voltages, not currents

                                  Yes, but can you have one without the other?

                                  You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

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                                  G Offline
                                  glennPattonWork3
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #27

                                  Current Flows, Voltage is Pressure to use the water metaphor...

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                                  • G glennPattonWork3

                                    Current Flows, Voltage is Pressure to use the water metaphor...

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                                    P Offline
                                    PIEBALDconsult
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #28

                                    Yes, I know that, but it doesn't answer the question.

                                    You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

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                                    • P PIEBALDconsult

                                      CPallini wrote:

                                      voltages, not currents

                                      Yes, but can you have one without the other?

                                      You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

                                      C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      CPallini
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #29

                                      That is not the point. Logical levels are bound to voltages because electrical potential difference is the measured physical quantity. For instance a car battery providing 8A to the vehicle lamps would have no higher logical level than four CR2032 cells providing 20 mA to a red LED (and its series resistor).

                                      THESE PEOPLE REALLY BOTHER ME!! How can they know what you should do without knowing what you want done?!?! -- C++ FQA Lite

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                                      • C CPallini

                                        That is not the point. Logical levels are bound to voltages because electrical potential difference is the measured physical quantity. For instance a car battery providing 8A to the vehicle lamps would have no higher logical level than four CR2032 cells providing 20 mA to a red LED (and its series resistor).

                                        THESE PEOPLE REALLY BOTHER ME!! How can they know what you should do without knowing what you want done?!?! -- C++ FQA Lite

                                        P Offline
                                        P Offline
                                        PIEBALDconsult
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #30

                                        I know that, but it doesn't answer the question.

                                        You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

                                        G C 3 Replies Last reply
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                                        • P PIEBALDconsult

                                          Yes, I know that, but it doesn't answer the question.

                                          You'll never get very far if all you do is follow instructions.

                                          G Offline
                                          G Offline
                                          glennPattonWork3
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #31

                                          Well Voltage 'dropped' across a component, it appears one side, a different value on the other side giving a difference in voltage that can be read with a meter in parallel. Current is the 'thing' (for want of a better word) moving through the circuit to measure it you have to break the path and insert the meter (there are other methods like coils etc. but...). So you can measure a voltage across something with out the being current flow (such as wires before plugging in). Bad explanation but the best I can manage at this time-O-day have a look at howstuffworks.com I seem to remember they had a very basic explanation. I'm off home! :)

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