Extending bit patterns
We already extended bit patterns in ALU project. Our instruction with Opcode 00 was extending the 4-bit field denoted by XY with zeros to 8 bits. This was preserving the unsigned value, e.g for XY denoting 0101 we have \(u(0101) = u(00000101)\).
In other applications (e.g. an ALU that provides more opcode) we would like to provide an instruction that extends a bit pattern such that its signed value gets preserved. And this is what the video is all about.
Video tutorial
Assignment
Let me know if you have a good idea for an assignment. Seriously!