Data processor a method and apparatus for performing postnormalization in a floating-point execution unit

摘要

A method and apparatus for performing prenormalization during execution by an execution unit (100) of a floating-point add/subtract operation using two data operands. The execution unit (100) adds a mantissa portion of a first and a second floating-point data operand to generate a prenormalized mantissa sum. The execution unit (100) minimizes critical path delays to allow high-performance floating-point calculations while simultaneously reducing logic. Instead of treating the prenormalized mantissa sum as a 64-bit value with special treatment in case of a carry out due to overflow, the floating-point adder 100 treats the prenormalized mantissa sum as a 65-bit value, with the most significant bit being a carry output. Instead of conditionally incrementing an initial exponent value, the initial exponent value is always incremented. Thus, allowing the floating-point adder unit 100 to perform the exponent adjustments for normalization and for rounding faster.