digital comparator

Operand interpretation

Record the interpretation required to turn input bit patterns into comparable values.

1. How many bits form each operand, and which inputs carry the most and least significant bits? definition
2. Are operands interpreted as unsigned binary, a specified signed encoding or another encoding? definition

Relation output contract

Record which relations are available and how their assertion is represented.

1. Does the implementation report equality only, or also A greater than B and A less than B? definition
2. What output polarity or encoding identifies each relation, and which combinations are valid after settling? definition

Valid input levels

Record documented electrical limits for interpreting input signals.

1. Which supply range and input-high and input-low limits apply under the intended operating conditions? measurement
2. How must unused operand, enable and cascade inputs be terminated? action

Relation signal drive

Record output topology and loading constraints for each comparison signal.

1. What output topology, external pull components and drive limits are documented? definition
2. Do the receiving thresholds and actual load permit each relation output to reach a valid level? measurement

Result availability

Record the delay or sampling conditions separating an input change from a usable result.

1. Is the comparison path combinational, registered or otherwise sequenced? definition
2. What propagation or clock-related timing limits apply at the actual supply, temperature and output load? measurement

Invalid result handling

Record conditions in which outputs must not be treated as a valid operand relation.

1. What output behaviour is documented during power-up, disable, reset or changing operands? definition
2. What settling interval, register or qualification signal prevents downstream action on transient results? action

Cascade contract

Record whether and how comparator stages form a wider comparison.

1. Does the implementation support cascading, and what meaning does it assign to each cascade input? definition
2. How must stages be ordered and standalone cascade inputs initialised to preserve word significance? action

Representation boundary

Separate the comparator's native behaviour from transformations performed by surrounding logic.

1. Which truncation, extension, bit reordering or encoding conversion occurs before comparison? boundary
2. What evidence establishes that these transformations preserve the ordering or equality required by the application? provenance

Discriminating test vectors

Record test inputs and expected relations derived from the declared comparison semantics.

1. Which vectors test equal words, single-bit differences and a most-significant difference opposed by lower bits? action
2. Which additional vectors cover signed boundaries, enables or cascade stages when those features are present? action

Comparison failure isolation

Record reproducible mismatches and the checks needed to identify their cause.

1. For each mismatch, what operands, controls, supply conditions and sampling time were observed? measurement
2. Which checks distinguish swapped operands, reversed bit order, incorrect cascade inputs, stuck signals and premature sampling? action

Check these first

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these check these first hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Kinds and varieties

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1. Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Identifiers and schemes

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1. Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Real-world use

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1. Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Typical measurements

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1. Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Failure modes and hazards

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1. Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance

Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart

Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.

1. Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of digital comparator this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance