Boolean Curve Fitting with the Aid of Variable-Entered Karnaugh Maps

Abstract

The Variable-Entered Karnaugh Map is utilized to grant a simpler view and a visual perspective to Boolean curve fitting (Boolean interpolation); a topic whose inherent complexity hinders its potential applications. We derive the function(s) through m points in the Boolean space B^(n+1) together with consistency and uniqueness conditions, where B is a general ‘big’ Boolean algebra of l≥1 generators, L atoms (2^(l-1)<L≤2^l) and 2^L elements. We highlight prominent cases in which the consistency condition reduces to the identity (0=0) with a unique solution or with multiple solutions. We conjecture that consistent (albeit not necessarily unique) curve fitting is possible if, and only if, m=2^n. This conjecture is a generalization of the fact that a Boolean function of n variables is fully and uniquely determined by its values in the {0,1}^n subdomain of its B^n domain. A few illustrative examples are used to clarify the pertinent concepts and techniques.