Fixed-Point Blockset

Overview

A function lookup table is a method by which you can approximate a function by a table with a finite number of points (X,Y). Function lookup tables are essential to many fixed-point applications. The function you want to approximate is called the ideal function. The X values of the lookup table are called the breakpoints. You approximate the value of the ideal function at a point by linearly interpolating between the two adjacent breakpoints closest to the point.

In creating the points for a function lookup table, you generally want to achieve one or both of the following goals:

• Minimize the worst case error for a specified maximum number of breakpoints
• Minimize the number of breakpoints for a specified maximum allowed error

This tutorial shows you how to create function lookup tables using the function fixpt_look1_func_approx. You can optimize the lookup table to minimize the number of data points, the error, or both. You can also restrict the spacing of the breakpoints to be even or even powers of two, in order to speed up computations using the table.

This tutorial also explains how to use the function fixpt_look1_func_plot to find the worst case error of a lookup table and plot the errors at all points.

Tutorial: Producing Lookup Table Data

Worst Case Error for a Lookup Table