Patent · US Expired

Device and method for performing a leading zero determination on an operand

US6477552B1 · kind B1 · utility

5Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 1999
Grant dateNov 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F7/74
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A device for performing a consecutive clear bits count on an operand with an offset includes a plurality of logic circuits, each associated with a prioritized portion of the operand. Each logic circuit activates an all-zero signal when its respective portion of the operand consists of all zeros, performs a leading zero count on its respective portion of the operand, and generates a leading zero signal by offsetting its leading zero count with a first portion of the offset. Also, a priority encoder generates a signal encoding the priority of the highest priority inactive all-zero signal, and muxes select first and second portions of the leading zero signal associated with the highest priority inactive all-zero signal as a first portion of the consecutive clear bits count and a carryout selector signal, respectively, in accordance with the priority encoded signal. Further, adders generate a no-carryout signal by offsetting the priority encoded signal with a second portion of the offset, and generate a carryout signal by offsetting the priority encoded signal with the second portion of the offset and adding one. A mux then selects one of the no-carryout and carryout signals as a secon…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.