Binary Coded Decimal Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) are decimal numbers where each digit is represented by a four-bit binary number. BCD is commonly used with input and output devices. A thumbwheel switch is one example of an input device that uses BCD. The binary numbers are broken into groups of four bits, each group representing a decimal equivalent. A four-digit thumbwheel switch, like the one shown here, would control 16 (4 x 4) PLC inputs.
Dr. Hisham El-Sherif Mechatronics Department
Mechatronics Lab MCTR704
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