Detecting largest or smallest value of k n-bit data words by outputting 1 or 0 depending on contents of shift register columns and rows

摘要

The method involves placing the k data words in the columns of a n asterisk k shift register. In the first row of an n asterisk k shift register are the most significant bits of the k data words, and in the nth row are the least significant bits of the k data words. If there is a logical 1 or 0 in at least one column of the first row of the shift register, a logical 1 or 0 is output as a row result, otherwise a logical 0 or logical 1 is output. If there is a logical 1 or a logical 0 in at least one column of a subsequent row in the same column as the previous row, a logical 1 or 0 is output as a row result, otherwise a 0 or 1 is output. An Independent claim is included for a circuit for detecting the largest value of k data words comprising n-bits.