| 2003 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Mount Mellick Community School, Co. Laois
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Boolean Logic - the brains behind electronics
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A project aimed at writing a computer program to simulate and reduce the amount of logic in circuits, hence to make them smaller. It required the formation of an effective algorithm.
My project was to write a program to simulate the logic in circuits and to make the logic used smaller. I wrote an algorithm (a step by step mathematical sequence to accomplish something) to abridge a circuit into different sectors and analyze the whole operation; areas where logical substitutions could be embedded were placed, and the circuit was simulated for certainty. The algorithm then used Boolean algebra and various other methods to find smaller substitutions, hence making the circuit smaller.
I wrote a truth-table generator which could handle large intricate circuits and proved more worth-while than other software I've ever used. The algorithm goes through five layers of analyses and correction before a final simulation and comparison process is executed. The code was written in c++ and comprised my own libraries which I later figured are easily portable. I re-wrote my central algorithm in assembly language (much faster) so as to quicken the process. I collected many circuits from various microprocessors which I based my tests on. The tests emerged successful.
The overall purpose and potential of this software is to analyze and attempt to make circuits smaller and, if integrated with other technologies, it could be beneficial.
Michael Clear won First Prize in the Junior Individual Category in the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Section at the Esat BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January 2003. He also won a Special Award presented by The Irish Business & Employer Confederation (IBEC).
His teacher was Ms Una Wafer.
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