Method of Performing Serial Functions in Parallel
A method for performing serial functions in parallel, where a datapath is divided into several independent stages, or pipeline stages, so that logical functions can be implemented in each pipeline stage concurrently. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a pipelined logic tree is described. This method allows for n-bits to be input to the system and n-bits to output from the system concurrently.
1 . A method for performing serial functions in parallel, comprising:
(a) a datapath comprising n-bits, wherein said datapath is divided into a plurality of independent datapath stages, said plurality of independent datapath stages each comprising p-bits, said plurality of independent datapath stages further comprising at least one of a plurality of logic elements and at least one of a plurality of first memory elements,
(b) a plurality of logical functions, wherein said plurality of logical functions are concurrently performed by said logic elements of said plurality of independent datapath stages
(c) a plurality of result values produced from each of said plurality of logical functions, wherein each of said result values are stored in one of said plurality of first memory elements
(d) a plurality of second memory elements, wherein said result values stored in each of said plurality of first memory elements are output from the system into each of said plurality of second memory elements.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of independent datapath stages are a plurality of pipeline stages.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of logic elements, said plurality of first memory elements, and said plurality of second memory elements form a logic tree.