Title: RANK-ORDER FILTER A method and apparatus is provided for performing bit operations on a plurality of sample value numbers arranged in binary format to derive a select rankorder number. The bit operations are performed first on all the most significant bits of the sample value numbers to derive the most significant bit of the rank-order number. All bits of like significance of the sample value numbers are grouped and each succeeding group of less significant bits is sequentially processed to derive the corresponding bits of the rank-order number with the least significant bit of the rank-order number being lastly derived.
