Numerical value-ranking apparatus

Claim 2

A numerical value-ranking apparatus comprising: a first shift register for linearly storing a plurality of input numerical data items whose ranks are to be determined, and for circulatingly shifting said data items; a second shift register coupled to said first shift register for receiving a data item stored in said first shift register and read out from an output terminal of said first shift register and for temporarily storing the read out data item and circulatingly shifting the read out data item in synchronization with the shifting in said first shift register; a comparator coupled to said first and secOnd shift registers for comparing (1) the items which are stored in said first shift register and which were not read out from said first shift register to said second shift register with (2) said one item stored in said second shift register as a reference, and generating an output signal each time there is detected any of said items which has a given numerical relationship with said reference item; means coupled to said comparator for counting the number of times said comparator generates an output signal; means coupled to said counting means for indicating or recording the count output given by said counting means as the valueranking of the item read out to the second register with respect to all data stored in said first register; and control means coupled to said first and second shift registers for causing selected data items to be shifted from said first shift register to said second shift register for indicating or recording the value-ranking of the selected items of the remaining data in said first register by conducting the same operations as aforesaid.

Claim 3

The numerical value-ranking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said comparator includes first means for producing a first output signal each time there is detected an item having a given numerical relationship with said reference item; and a second means for generating a second output signal each time there is detected an item equal to said reference item; and said counting means includes a first counter for counting the number of times said first output signal is generated by said first means; and a second counter for counting the number of times said second output signal is produced by said second means.

Claim 4

The numerical value-ranking apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said comparator includes a subtraction circuit for carrying out subtraction by comparing said reference item with said data items which are not read out from said first shift register to said second shift register, said subtraction circuit producing a borrow signal as said first output signal when any of said not read out data items is larger than said reference item, and generating a zero signal as said second output signal when a balance arrived at by said subtraction is zero.

Claim 5

The numerical value-ranking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said comparator includes: a subtraction circuit for carrying out subtraction by comparing said reference item with said data items which are not read out from said first shift register to said second register; and a rank-reversing means receiving the outputs of said first and second shift registers for selectively reversing the positions of a subtrahend and minuend and supplying the resultant outputs thereof to said subtraction circuit.

Claim 6

A numerical value-ranking apparatus comprising: a shift register for storing an address and items of data associated with said address whose rank is to be determined; means for recording the address and items stored in said shift register; arithmetic operation means coupled to said recording means for summing up the items recorded for each address; a first shift register for linearly storing the sums of items obtained by said arithmetic operation means for respective addresses and for circulatingly shifting said sums; a second shift register coupled to said first shift register for receiving one of the stored sums from an output terminal of said first shift register and for temporarily storing the received sum and circulatingly shifting said stored sum in synchronization with the shifting in said first shift register; comparing means coupled to said first and second shift registers for comparing (1) the sums which are stored in said first shift register and which were not read out from said first shift register to said second shift register with (2) a sum stored in said second shift register with the latter sum taken as a reference, and generating an output sIgnal each time there is detected any of said sums which has a given numerical relationship with said reference sum; means coupled to said comparing means for counting the number of times said comparing means generates an output signal; means coupled to said counting means for indicating or recording the count output given by said counting means as the value-ranking of the sum read out to said second register with respect to all sums stored in said first register; and control means coupled to said first and second shift registers for causing selected sums to be shifted from said first shift register to said second shift register for indicating or recording the value-ranking of the selected sums of the remaining sums in said first register by conducting the same operations as aforesaid.

Claim 7

A numerical value-ranking apparatus comprising: a shift register for storing an address and items of data associated with said address whose rank is to be determined; means for recording the address and items stored in said shift register; arithmetic operation means coupled to said recording means for summing up the items recorded for each address; a first shift register for linearly storing the sums of items obtained by said arithmetic operation means for respective addresses and for circulatingly shifting said sums; a second shift register coupled to said first shift register for receiving one of the stored sums from an output terminal of said first shift register and for temporarily storing the received sum and circulatingly shifting said stored sum in synchronization with the shifting in said first shift register; comparing means coupled to said first and second shift registers for comparing (1) the sums which are stored in said first shift register and which were not read out from said first shift register to said second shift register with (2) a sum stored in said second shift register with the latter sum taken as a reference, and generating an output sIgnal each time there is detected any of said sums which has a given numerical relationship with said reference sum; means coupled to said comparing means for counting the number of times said comparing means generates an output signal; means coupled to said counting means for indicating or recording the count output given by said counting means as the value-ranking of the sum read out to said second register with respect to all sums stored in said first register; and control means coupled to said first and second shift registers for causing selected sums to be shifted from said first shift register to said second shift register for indicating or recording the value-ranking of the selected sums of the remaining sums in said first register by conducting the same operations as aforesaid.