Binary Decoder

Overview

The Binary Decoder uses the nature of binary values to extract multiple signals from a single Redstone Wire or RedCu Wire.

Redstone operates on signal values from 0 to 15, which in binary corresponds to 4 bits. The Binary Decoder allows the player to read these bits individually, effectively converting a single wire into a 4-channel digital bus.

This bus can be created from discrete signals using the Binary Encoder.

Operation

The Binary Decoder reads:

• Pin Mark A - Bus input signal
• Pin Mark B - Binary filter signal

Both inputs are standard Redstone signals (values from 0 to 15).

First, a binary AND operation is performed between Pin Mark A and Pin Mark B.

Binary AND essentially passes each A and B bit pair through an AND Gate. For example:

A = 0110 ( 6)
B = 1010 (10)
O = 0010 ( 2)

If the result is not 0, Pin Mark C outputs a Redstone signal of 15.

The mark lights up when the output signal at Pin Mark C is greater than 0.

After this, the matching bits are consumed from the bus signal.

“Consumed” means that any bit which is 1 in both A and B becomes 0 in the output. Bits where B is 0 remain unchanged.

This follows the logic:

Applying this to the same example:

A = 0110 ( 6)
B = 1010 (10)
O = 0100 ( 4)

This resulting value becomes the new bus output.

Example

Consider decoding two independent signals. Refer to the Binary Encoder example for how the signals were combined.

Each channel corresponds to a binary value:

• 1 (0001)
• 2 (0010)
• 4 (0100)
• 8 (1000)

These values act as binary filters used to decode signals. A Hexadecimal Indicator is useful for seeing active channels.

In this example:

• Right channel uses filter 1
• Left channel uses filter 2

The left decoder receives a 1 on Pin Mark A and 2 Pin Mark B, so:

A = 0001 (1)
B = 0010 (2)
O = 0000 (0)

Since the result is 0, Pin Mark C outputs 0.

The bus signal is not consumed and continues to the next decoder.

The right decoder receives a 1 on Pin Mark A and 1 Pin Mark B, so:

A = 0001 (1)
B = 0001 (1)
O = 0001 (1)

Since the result is not 0, Pin Mark C outputs 15.

The bus signal is then consumed:

A = 0001 (1)
B = 0001 (1)
O = 0000 (0)

The remaining bus signal becomes 0.

A useful trick is to detect multiple channels at once by combining filters. For example, to detect channels 4 and 2, set the binary filter to:

4 (0100) + 2 (0010) = 6 (0110)

If the decoder receives a 5 on Pin Mark A:

A = 0101 (5)
B = 0110 (6)
O = 0100 (4)

Then Pin Mark C outputs 15, and the remaining bus becomes:

A = 0101 (5)
B = 0110 (6)
O = 0001 (1)

Leaving channel 1 active.

Configuration

The pins can be configured to face any side by right-clicking the block.

Crafting

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