convert c_float to ieee_11073_16bit_float

[alex_u]

Hello,

I need to convert a standard 32 bit floating point number to IEEE-11073 16-bit FLOAT with 12-bit mantissa and 4-bit exponent (source: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com). Is there already an implementation in the sdk or an example somewhere? I tried it the following way, but the numbers in the nrf connect app where wrong.

#include "ble_bps.h"
ieee_float16_t c_float32_to_ieee_11073_float16(float input)
{
    ieee_float16_t ret;
    uint32_t input_raw = *((uint32_t*)&input);
    ret.mantissa = (input_raw >> 23) & 0xf;
    ret.exponent = (input_raw & 0xfff);
    return ret;
}

[haakonsh]

See similar post https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/28727/32-bit-ieee-11073-float-data-type-parser 

Otherwise, I'd check the ARM CMSIS DSP library, arm_math.h, https://github.com/ARM-software/CMSIS/blob/master/CMSIS/Include/arm_math.h

[alex_u]

the arm_math.h and the post your referenced are using 32 bit floating numbers. I already checked those. I am also confused about the 12 bit mantissa and 4 bit exponent format. The standard half precision floating point number seems to be 5 bit exponent and 11 bit mantissa (source: wikipedia). Could you give me a more detailed description of the IEEE-11073 16-bit FLOAT format? I cant find anything about exponent encoding and INF and NAN definition.

[haakonsh]

I have zero experience with IEEE-11073, I suggest you get a copy of the specification if you intend to use it. 

What the SDK devs have done is this:

/**@brief SFLOAT format (IEEE-11073 16-bit FLOAT, 
defined as a 16-bit vlue with 12-bit mantissa and 4-bit exponent. */
typedef struct
{
  int8_t  exponent;                                /**< Base 10 exponent, only 4 bits */
  int16_t mantissa;                                /**< Mantissa, only 12 bits */
} ieee_float16_t;



uint16_t encoded_sfloat;
ieee_float16_t sfloat;

// Taken from the Blood Pressure Service example:
encoded_sfloat = ((sfloat.exponent << 12) & 0xF000) |
((sfloat.mantissa << 0) & 0x0FFF);

//Now you can encode an exponent + mantissa into a uin16_t

[alex_u]

I currently have no access to the specification. But I want to use your SDK to transmit bloodpressure measurments. It seems like this is only possible by using the 16 bit float defined in IEEE-11073. Or is there another solution?

[alex_u]

I managed to get it done.

Here is the final code:

ieee_float16_t c_float32_to_ieee_11073_float16(float input)
{
	ieee_float16_t ret;	
	ret.exponent = 0;
	while(input > (float)0x7ff){
		input /= 10;
		ret.exponent += 1;
	}
	while(input*10 < (float)0x7ff){
		input *= 10;
		ret.exponent -= 1;
	}
	ret.mantissa = (int16_t)input;
	return ret;
}

Thanks for your help.

Alex

[haakonsh]

That's not gonna work, for larger numbers the mantissa gets truncated. 
You need an algorithm that always returns a float with 12-bit precision.