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Alphanumeric and Gray Codes Notes

The document discusses alphanumeric codes, which are binary representations for letters, digits, and symbols, highlighting common types like ASCII, EBCDIC, and Unicode, as well as their applications and advantages. It also covers Gray code, a binary numeral system that changes only one bit at a time to minimize errors, detailing its properties, conversion rules, and applications. A comparison table contrasts the features of alphanumeric codes and Gray codes.

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Gerald Makori
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33 views3 pages

Alphanumeric and Gray Codes Notes

The document discusses alphanumeric codes, which are binary representations for letters, digits, and symbols, highlighting common types like ASCII, EBCDIC, and Unicode, as well as their applications and advantages. It also covers Gray code, a binary numeral system that changes only one bit at a time to minimize errors, detailing its properties, conversion rules, and applications. A comparison table contrasts the features of alphanumeric codes and Gray codes.

Uploaded by

Gerald Makori
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Alphanumeric Codes and Gray Codes - Detailed Notes

ALPHANUMERIC CODES

1. Definition:
Alphanumeric codes are binary codes used to represent alphabets (AZ, az),
digits (09), and special characters in computers and digital systems.

2. Common Alphanumeric Codes:

(i) ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange


- 7-bit or 8-bit code.
- Represents 128 (or 256) characters: letters, digits, control characters, and
symbols.

Examples:
Character ASCII Decimal ASCII Binary
A 65 01000001
a 97 01100001
0 48 00110000

(ii) EBCDIC Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code


- 8-bit code used in IBM mainframes.

(iii) UNICODE
- Universal standard encoding, supporting global characters.
- Encoded in UTF-8, UTF-16, or UTF-32.

(iv) ISO/IEC 8859


- Latin and European alphabet encoding, mostly replaced by Unicode.

3. Applications:
- Programming, file storage, keyboards, databases, communication protocols.

4. Advantages:
- Standard communication, easy data processing, system compatibility.

GRAY CODE

1. Definition:
Gray code is a binary numeral system where only one bit changes at a time
between values.

2. Purpose:
Used to minimize errors in digital circuits, especially rotary encoders and A/D
converters.

3. Properties:
- Only 1 bit changes between successive numbers.
- Non-weighted code, not suitable for arithmetic.

4. Gray Code Table (4-bit example):


Decimal Binary Gray Code
0 0000 0000
1 0001 0001
2 0010 0011
3 0011 0010
4 0100 0110
5 0101 0111
6 0110 0101
7 0111 0100
8 1000 1100
9 1001 1101
10 1010 1111
11 1011 1110
12 1100 1010
13 1101 1011
14 1110 1001
15 1111 1000

5. Conversion Rules:

Binary to Gray:
- Gray[0] = Binary[0]
- Gray[i] = Binary[i] XOR Binary[i-1]

Gray to Binary:
- Binary[0] = Gray[0]
- Binary[i] = Binary[i-1] XOR Gray[i]

6. Applications:
- Rotary encoders, Karnaugh maps, and noise minimization.

Comparison Table:

Feature | Alphanumeric Code | Gray Code


---------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------
Purpose | Represent characters | Reduce transition errors
Bit Change Pattern | Multiple bits may change | Only one bit changes
Arithmetic Use | Yes | No
Common Types | ASCII, Unicode | Reflected Binary
Used In | Text/data processing | Encoders, logic design

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