In a method for multiplication of floating-point real numbers, encoded in
a binary way in sign, exponent and mantissa, the multiplication of the
mantissa envisages a step of calculation of partial products, which are
constituted by a set of addenda corresponding to the mantissa. In order
to reduce the size and power consumption of the circuits designed for
calculation, there is adopted a method of binary encoding which envisages
setting the first bit of the mantissa to a value 1, in order to obtain a
mantissa having a value comprised between 0.5 and 1. Also proposed are
methods for rounding of the product and circuits for the implementation
of the multiplication method. Also illustrated are circuits for
conversion from and to encoding of floating-point real numbers according
to the IEEE754 standard. Preferential application is in portable and/or
wireless electronic devices, such as mobile telephones and PDAs, with low
power-consumption requirements.