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Product of Elements

Copy or invert one scalar input, or collapse one nonscalar input

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  • Product of Elements block

Libraries:
Simulink / Math Operations
HDL Coder / HDL Floating Point Operations
HDL Coder / Math Operations

Description

The Product of Elements block inputs one scalar, vector, or matrix. You can use the block to:

  • Copy a scalar input unchanged

  • Invert a scalar input (divide 1 by it)

  • Collapse a vector or matrix to a scalar by multiplying together all elements or taking successive inverses of the elements

  • Collapse a matrix to a vector using one of these options:

    • Multiply together the elements of each row or column

    • Take successive inverses of the elements of each row or column

The Product of Elements block is functionally a Product block that has two preset parameter values:

  • Multiplication: Element-wise(.*)

  • Number of inputs: *

Setting nondefault values for either of those parameters can change a Product of Elements block to be functionally equivalent to a Product block or a Divide block.

Examples

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Open Model

This example shows how to use the Product of Elements block to perform element-wise multiplication and division of inputs.

Open Model

This example shows how to perform element-wise complex division using the Product of Elements block.

The top Product of Elements block collapses the matrix input to a scalar by taking successive inverses of the four elements:

  • y = ((((1/2+i)/3)/4-i)/5)

The bottom Product of Elements block collapses the matrix input to a vector by taking successive inverses along the second dimension:

  • y(1) = ((1/2+i)/3)

  • y(2) = ((1/4-i)/5)

Ports

Input

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First input to multiply or divide, provided as a scalar, vector, matrix, or N-D array.

Data Types: half | single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | fixed point

Nth input to multiply or divide, provided as a scalar, vector, matrix, or N-D array.

Data Types: half | single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | fixed point

Input signal to be multiplied with other inputs.

Dependencies

To enable one or more X ports, specify one or more * characters for the Number of inputs parameter.

Data Types: half | single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | fixed point

Input signal for division or inversion operations.

Dependencies

To enable one or more ÷ ports, specify one or more / characters for the Number of inputs parameter.

Data Types: half | single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | fixed point

Output

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Output computed by multiplying, dividing, or inverting inputs.

Data Types: half | single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | fixed point

Parameters

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Main

Control two properties of the block:

  • The number of input ports on the block

  • Whether each input is multiplied or divided into the output

When you specify:

  • 1 or * or /

    The block has one input port. In element-wise mode, the block processes the input as described for the Product of Elements block. In matrix mode, if the parameter value is 1 or *, the block outputs the input value. If the value is /, the input must be a square matrix (including a scalar as a degenerate case) and the block outputs the matrix inverse. See Element-Wise Mode and Matrix Mode for more information.

  • Integer value > 1

    The block has the number of inputs given by the integer value. The inputs are multiplied together in element-wise mode or matrix mode, as specified by the Multiplication parameter. See Element-Wise Mode and Matrix Mode for more information.

  • Unquoted string of two or more * and / characters

    The block has the number of inputs given by the length of the character vector. Each input that corresponds to a * character is multiplied into the output. Each input that corresponds to a / character is divided into the output. The operations occur in element-wise mode or matrix mode, as specified by the Multiplication parameter. See Element-Wise Mode and Matrix Mode for more information.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Inputs
Type: character vector
Values: '2' | '*' | '**' | '*/' | '*/*' | ...
Default: '*'

Specify whether the block performs Element-wise(.*) or Matrix(*) multiplication.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Multiplication
Type: character vector
Values: 'Element-wise(.*)' | 'Matrix(*)'
Default: 'Element-wise(.*)'

Specify how to apply the function along specified dimensions.

  • All dimensions — Apply function for all input values for all dimensions.

    For example, in this model, Multiplication is set to Element-wise(.*), and Apply over is set to All dimensions. The block returns the product of all values from all dimensions.

    2D matrix with Constant block value [1 2 3;7 6 4] as input to Product block configured for all dimensions

    When you select All dimensions and select the configuration parameter Use algorithms optimized for row-major array layout, Simulink® enables row-major algorithms for simulation. To generate row-major code, set configuration parameter Array layout (Simulink Coder) to Row-major, and select Use algorithms optimized for row-major array layout. The column-major and row-major algorithms differ only in the multiplication order. In some cases, due to operation function order on the same data set, you might experience minor numeric differences in the outputs of column-major and row-major algorithms.

  • Specified dimensions — Apply function for all input values for specified dimension.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Number of inputs to * and Multiplication to Element-wise (.*).

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: CollapseMode
Type: character vector
Values: 'All dimensions' | 'Specified dimension'
Default: 'All dimensions'

Specify the dimension along which to multiply, as a positive integer. For example, for a 2-D matrix, 1 applies the function to each column, and 2 applies the function to each row.

For example, in this model, Multiplication is set to Element-wise(.*), Apply over is set to Specified dimension, and Dimension is set to 2. The block returns the product of all values from each row.

2D matrix with Constant block value [1 2 3;7 6 4] as input to Product block configured for dimension 2

Dependencies

To enable this parameter:

  • Set Number of inputs to *

  • Set Multiplication to Element-wise (.*)

  • Set Apply over to Specified dimension

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: CollapseDim
Type: character vector
Values: '1' | '2' | ...
Default: '1'

Specify the time interval between samples. To inherit the sample time, set this parameter to -1. For more information, see Specify Sample Time.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only if you set it to a value other than -1. To learn more, see Blocks for Which Sample Time Is Not Recommended.

Programmatic Use

To set the block parameter value programmatically, use the set_param function.

Parameter: SampleTime
Values: "-1" (default) | scalar or vector in quotes

Signal Attributes

Specify if input signals must all have the same data type. If you enable this parameter, then an error occurs during simulation if the input signal types are different.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: InputSameDT
Type: character vector
Values: 'off' | 'on'
Default: 'off'

Lower value of the output range that the software checks.

The software uses the minimum to perform:

Tips

Output minimum does not saturate or clip the actual output signal. Use the Saturation block instead.

Programmatic Use

To set the block parameter value programmatically, use the set_param function.

Parameter: OutMin
Values: '[]' (default) | scalar in quotes

Upper value of the output range that the software checks.

The software uses the maximum value to perform:

Tips

Output maximum does not saturate or clip the actual output signal. Use the Saturation block instead.

Programmatic Use

To set the block parameter value programmatically, use the set_param function.

Parameter: OutMax
Values: '[]' (default) | scalar in quotes

Choose the data type for the output. The type can be inherited, specified directly, or expressed as a data type object such as Simulink.NumericType. For more information, see Control Data Types of Signals.

When you select an inherited option, the block behaves as follows:

  • Inherit: Inherit via internal rule — Simulink chooses a data type to balance numerical accuracy, performance, and generated code size, while taking into account the properties of the embedded target hardware. If you change the embedded target settings, the data type selected by the internal rule might change. For example, if the block multiplies an input of type int8 by a gain of int16 and ASIC/FPGA is specified as the targeted hardware type, the output data type is sfix24. If Unspecified (assume 32-bit Generic), in other words, a generic 32-bit microprocessor, is specified as the target hardware, the output data type is int32. If none of the word lengths provided by the target microprocessor can accommodate the output range, Simulink software displays an error in the Diagnostic Viewer.

    It is not always possible for the software to optimize code efficiency and numerical accuracy at the same time. If the internal rule doesn’t meet your specific needs for numerical accuracy or performance, use one of the following options:

    • Specify the output data type explicitly.

    • Use the simple choice of Inherit: Same as input.

    • Explicitly specify a default data type such as fixdt(1,32,16) and then use the Fixed-Point Tool to propose data types for your model. For more information, see fxptdlg (Fixed-Point Designer).

    • To specify your own inheritance rule, use Inherit: Inherit via back propagation and then use a Data Type Propagation block. Examples of how to use this block are available in the Signal Attributes library Data Type Propagation Examples block.

  • Inherit: Inherit via back propagation — Use data type of the driving block.

  • Inherit: Same as first input — Use data type of first input signal.

Dependencies

When input is a floating-point data type smaller than single precision, the Inherit: Inherit via internal rule output data type depends on the setting of the Inherit floating-point output type smaller than single precision configuration parameter. Data types are smaller than single precision when the number of bits needed to encode the data type is less than the 32 bits needed to encode the single-precision data type. For example, half and int16 are smaller than single precision.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: OutDataTypeStr
Type: character vector
Values: 'Inherit: Inherit via internal rule | 'Inherit: Same as first input' | 'Inherit: Inherit via back propagation' | 'double' | 'single' | 'int8' | 'uint8' | 'int16' | 'uint16' | 'int32' | 'uint32' | 'int64' | 'uint64' | 'fixdt(1,16)' | 'fixdt(1,16,0)' | 'fixdt(1,16,2^0,0)' | '<data type expression>'
Default: 'Inherit: Inherit via internal rule'

Select this parameter to prevent the fixed-point tools from overriding the Output data type you specify on the block. For more information, see Use Lock Output Data Type Setting (Fixed-Point Designer).

Programmatic Use

To set the block parameter value programmatically, use the set_param function.

Parameter: LockScale
Values: 'off' (default) | 'on'

Select the rounding mode for fixed-point operations. You can select:

Ceiling

Rounds positive and negative numbers toward positive infinity. Equivalent to the MATLAB® ceil function.

Convergent

Rounds number to the nearest representable value. If a tie occurs, rounds to the nearest even integer. Equivalent to the Fixed-Point Designer™ convergent function.

Floor

Rounds positive and negative numbers toward negative infinity. Equivalent to the MATLAB floor function.

Nearest

Rounds number to the nearest representable value. If a tie occurs, rounds toward positive infinity. Equivalent to the Fixed-Point Designer nearest function.

Round

Rounds number to the nearest representable value. If a tie occurs, rounds positive numbers toward positive infinity and rounds negative numbers toward negative infinity. Equivalent to the Fixed-Point Designer round function.

Simplest

Chooses between rounding toward floor and rounding toward zero to generate rounding code that is as efficient as possible.

Zero

Rounds number toward zero. Equivalent to the MATLAB fix function.

For more information, see Rounding Modes (Fixed-Point Designer).

Block parameters always round to the nearest representable value. To control the rounding of a block parameter, enter an expression using a MATLAB rounding function into the mask field.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: RndMeth
Type: character vector
Values: 'Ceiling' | 'Convergent' | 'Floor' | 'Nearest' | 'Round' | 'Simplest' | 'Zero'
Default: 'Floor'

Specify whether overflows saturate or wrap.

  • on — Overflows saturate to either the minimum or maximum value that the data type can represent.

  • off — Overflows wrap to the appropriate value that the data type can represent.

For example, the maximum value that the signed 8-bit integer int8 can represent is 127. Any block operation result greater than this maximum value causes overflow of the 8-bit integer.

  • With this parameter selected, the block output saturates at 127. Similarly, the block output saturates at a minimum output value of -128.

  • With this parameter cleared, the software interprets the overflow-causing value as int8, which can produce an unintended result. For example, a block result of 130 (binary 1000 0010) expressed as int8 is -126.

Tips

  • Consider selecting this parameter when your model has a possible overflow and you want explicit saturation protection in the generated code.

  • Consider clearing this parameter when you want to optimize efficiency of your generated code. Clearing this parameter also helps you to avoid overspecifying how a block handles out-of-range signals. For more information, see Troubleshoot Signal Range Errors.

  • When you select this parameter, saturation applies to every internal operation on the block, not just the output or result.

  • In general, the code generation process can detect when overflow is not possible. In this case, the code generator does not produce saturation code.

Programmatic Use

To set the block parameter value programmatically, use the set_param function.

Parameter: SaturateOnIntegerOverflow
Values: 'off' (default) | 'on'

Select the category of data to specify.

  • Inherit — Inheritance rules for data types. Selecting Inherit enables a second menu/text box to the right where you can select the inheritance mode.

  • Built in — Built-in data types. Selecting Built in enables a second menu/text box to the right where you can select a built-in data type.

  • Fixed point — Fixed-point data types. Selecting Fixed point enables additional parameters that you can use to specify a fixed-point data type.

  • Expression — Expressions that evaluate to data types. Selecting Expression enables a second menu/text box to the right, where you can enter the expression.

For more information, see Specify Data Types Using Data Type Assistant.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, click the Show data type assistant button.

Select the data type override mode for this signal.

  • When you select Inherit, Simulink inherits the data type override setting from its context, that is, from the block, Simulink.Signal object or Stateflow® chart in Simulink that is using the signal.

  • When you select Off, Simulink ignores the data type override setting of its context and uses the fixed-point data type specified for the signal.

For more information, see Specify Data Types Using Data Type Assistant in the Simulink documentation.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Mode to Built in or Fixed point.

Tips

The ability to turn off data type override for an individual data type provides greater control over the data types in your model when you apply data type override. For example, you can use this option to ensure that data types meet the requirements of downstream blocks regardless of the data type override setting.

Specify whether the fixed-point data is signed or unsigned. Signed data can represent positive and negative values, but unsigned data represents positive values only.

  • Signed, specifies the fixed-point data as signed.

  • Unsigned, specifies the fixed-point data as unsigned.

For more information, see Specify Data Types Using Data Type Assistant.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set the Mode to Fixed point.

Specify the bit size of the word that holds the quantized integer. For more information, see Specifying a Fixed-Point Data Type.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Mode to Fixed point.

Specify fraction length for fixed-point data type as a positive or negative integer. For more information, see Specifying a Fixed-Point Data Type.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Scaling to Binary point.

Specify the method for scaling your fixed-point data to avoid overflow conditions and minimize quantization errors. For more information, see Specifying a Fixed-Point Data Type.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Mode to Fixed point.

Specify slope for the fixed-point data type. For more information, see Specifying a Fixed-Point Data Type.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Scaling to Slope and bias.

Specify bias for the fixed-point data type as any real number. For more information, see Specifying a Fixed-Point Data Type.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Scaling to Slope and bias.

Block Characteristics

Data Types

Boolean | double | fixed point | half | integer | single

Direct Feedthrough

yes

Multidimensional Signals

yes

Variable-Size Signals

yes

Zero-Crossing Detection

no

Algorithms

The Product of Elements block uses these algorithms to perform element-wise operations on inputs of floating-point, built-in integer, and fixed-point types.

InputElement-Wise OperationAlgorithm

Real scalar, u

Multiplicationy = u
Divisiony = 1/u

Real vector or matrix with elements u1, u2, u3, ..., uN

Multiplicationy = u1*u2*u3*...*uN
Divisiony = ((((1/u1)/u2)/u3).../uN)

Complex scalar, u

Multiplicationy = u
Divisiony = 1/u

Complex vector or matrix with elements u1, u2, u3, ..., uN

Multiplicationy = u1*u2*u3*...*uN
Divisiony = ((((1/u1)/u2)/u3).../uN)

If the specified dimension for element-wise multiplication or division is a row or column of a matrix, the algorithm applies to that row or column. Consider the Complex Division Using the Product of Elements Block example.

The top Product of Elements block collapses the matrix input to a scalar by taking successive inverses of the four elements:

  • y = ((((1/2+i)/3)/4-i)/5)

The bottom Product of Elements block collapses the matrix input to a vector by taking successive inverses along the second dimension:

  • y(1) = ((1/2+i)/3)

  • y(2) = ((1/4-i)/5)

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

PLC Code Generation
Generate Structured Text code using Simulink® PLC Coder™.

Fixed-Point Conversion
Design and simulate fixed-point systems using Fixed-Point Designer™.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

See Also

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