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US3914744A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Shifting apparatus

Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Italia SpA
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Filing: 1973-01-02
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-01-02
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Abstract

Abstract A novel shifting apparatus is disclosed herein. The shifting apparatus is comprised of a control register, a shifting circuit and a storage register. The control register contains a binary shift command which governs the type of shift, the direction of the shift and the amount of shift. The shifting circuit is operative in response to the binary shift command from the control register to shift a block of data stored within the storage register. The shifting circuit comprises at least one substage which itself comprises a number of bit shift cells. Each bit shift cell implements a commanded bit positional shift. The type of shifting which is implemented within each bit shift cell is completely free flowing without any need of intermediate storage. The resulting overall free flow of bit shifts provides for an almost instantaneous return of a shifted block of data back to the storage register. The shifting circuit also contains special circuitry for handling a block of data differently depending on the type of shift which is being implemented.

Inventors

  • 👤 James L Brown

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 06:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F5/00; G06F5/01; G06F5/015

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 360 words
Shifting apparatus for bidirectionally shifting a block of data one or more bit positions at a time in response to a shift command, said shifting apparatus comprising: register means for storing a block of data, said register means comprising a plurality of n bit storage locations with each bit storage location defining a particular bit position relative to the other bit storage locations; a plurality of n lines each of which is connected to one of said n bit storage locations so as to be capable of transmitting the bit contents of the particular storage location; and shifting means, connected to said n lines so as to receive the incoming block of data, for bidirectionally shifting the block of data one or more bit positions at a time, said shifting means comprising: a plurality of substages each consisting of only n bit shift cells with n substage output lines, said plurality of n substage output lines being either connected to the following substage or to the n bit storage location of said register means, each bit shift cell occupying a specific position and comprising: a respective subgrouping of input lines, said respective subgrouping input lines being a subgroup of said plurality of n lines, wherein the respective sUbgrouping of input lines comprises: a first input line being operative to input a bit occupying the bit position corresponding to the bit position of the particular bit shift cell, and a plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line, each of said plurality of adjacent input lines being operative to input a bit occupying a different bit position from the bit position occupied by the particular bit shift cell, wherein each of said bit shift cells comprises: first gating means for gating any bit present on said first input line to the output of said bit shift cell a plurality of second gating means for gating respective bits present on the plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line to the output of said bit shift cell, and means for selectively activating only one of said gating means in response to the shift command for the particular substage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 360 words
Shifting apparatus for bidirectionally shifting a block of data one or more bit positions at a time in response to a shift command, said shifting apparatus comprising: register means for storing a block of data, said register means comprising a plurality of n bit storage locations with each bit storage location defining a particular bit position relative to the other bit storage locations; a plurality of n lines each of which is connected to one of said n bit storage locations so as to be capable of transmitting the bit contents of the particular storage location; and shifting means, connected to said n lines so as to receive the incoming block of data, for bidirectionally shifting the block of data one or more bit positions at a time, said shifting means comprising: a plurality of substages each consisting of only n bit shift cells with n substage output lines, said plurality of n substage output lines being either connected to the following substage or to the n bit storage location of said register means, each bit shift cell occupying a specific position and comprising: a respective subgrouping of input lines, said respective subgrouping input lines being a subgroup of said plurality of n lines, wherein the respective sUbgrouping of input lines comprises: a first input line being operative to input a bit occupying the bit position corresponding to the bit position of the particular bit shift cell, and a plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line, each of said plurality of adjacent input lines being operative to input a bit occupying a different bit position from the bit position occupied by the particular bit shift cell, wherein each of said bit shift cells comprises: first gating means for gating any bit present on said first input line to the output of said bit shift cell a plurality of second gating means for gating respective bits present on the plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line to the output of said bit shift cell, and means for selectively activating only one of said gating means in response to the shift command for the particular substage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 73 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively activating one of said gating means comprises: means for decoding the shift command of the particular substage, said decoding means having a plurality of outputs each of which is activated for a given shift command value for the particular substage, said plurality of outputs each being connected to either said first gating means or one of said plurality of second gating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 339 words
Shifting apparatus for bidirectionally shifting a block of data one or more bit positions at a time in response to a shift command comprising a first signal indicating either an arithmetic or logic shift, a second signal indicating the direction of shift and a plurality of signals indicating the amplitude of positional shift, said shifting apparatus comprising: register means for storing a block of data, said register means comprising a plurality of n bit storage locations with each bit storage location defining a particular bit position relative to the other bit storage locations; a plurality of n lines each of which is connected to one of said n bit storage locations so as to be capable of transmitting the bit contents of the particular storage location; and shifting means, connected to said n lines so as to receive the incoming block of data, for bidirectionally shifting the block of data one or more bit positions at a time, said shifting means having at least one substage, said substage comprising: a plurality of n bit shift cells, each bit shift cell occupying a specific bit position and comprising means, responsive to said shift command for bidirectionally shifting a bit of the incoming block of data a respective subgrouping of input lines for each bit shift cell, said respective subgrouping of input lines being a subgroup of said plurality of n lines, wherein the respective subgrouping of input lines within a particular substage comprises: a first input line being operative to input a bit occupying the bit position corresponding to the bit position of the particular bit shift cell, and a plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line, each of said plurality of adjacent input lines being operative to input a bit occupying a different bit position from the bit position occupied by the particular bit shift cell, means for generating a sign in response to said first signal indicating an arithmetic shift; and means for inputing the sign to at least one of the bit shift cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 339 words
Shifting apparatus for bidirectionally shifting a block of data one or more bit positions at a time in response to a shift command comprising a first signal indicating either an arithmetic or logic shift, a second signal indicating the direction of shift and a plurality of signals indicating the amplitude of positional shift, said shifting apparatus comprising: register means for storing a block of data, said register means comprising a plurality of n bit storage locations with each bit storage location defining a particular bit position relative to the other bit storage locations; a plurality of n lines each of which is connected to one of said n bit storage locations so as to be capable of transmitting the bit contents of the particular storage location; and shifting means, connected to said n lines so as to receive the incoming block of data, for bidirectionally shifting the block of data one or more bit positions at a time, said shifting means having at least one substage, said substage comprising: a plurality of n bit shift cells, each bit shift cell occupying a specific bit position and comprising means, responsive to said shift command for bidirectionally shifting a bit of the incoming block of data a respective subgrouping of input lines for each bit shift cell, said respective subgrouping of input lines being a subgroup of said plurality of n lines, wherein the respective subgrouping of input lines within a particular substage comprises: a first input line being operative to input a bit occupying the bit position corresponding to the bit position of the particular bit shift cell, and a plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line, each of said plurality of adjacent input lines being operative to input a bit occupying a different bit position from the bit position occupied by the particular bit shift cell, means for generating a sign in response to said first signal indicating an arithmetic shift; and means for inputing the sign to at least one of the bit shift cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for generating a sign comprises: gating means, connected to the lowest ordered bit storage location of said register means, for outputing the binary value of the lowest ordered bit storage location in response to said first signal of said shift command indicating an arithmetic shift.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said shifting means further comprises: means for disabling the lowest ordered bit shift cell of each substage in response to said first signal indicatiNg an arithmetic shift.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 71 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 5 wherein said disabling means further comprises: gating means for receiving one or more of said signals indicating the amplitude of positional shift from said control means, said gating means also receiving said first signal indicating either an arithmetic or logic shift, said gating means being operative to output a bit positional shift command of zero in response to said first signal indicating an arithmetic shift.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 86 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 6 wherein each respective subgrouping of input lines for a bit shift cell comprises: a first input line being operative to input a bit occupying the bit position corresponding to the bit position of the particular bit shift cell; and a plurality of input lines adjacent to said first input line, each of said plurality of adjacent input lines being operative to input a bit occupying a different bit position from the bit position occupied by the particular bit shift cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 88 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: means for decoding said second signal indicating the direction of shift, and at least one of the signals indicating the amplitude of positional shift, said decoding means having a plurality of outputs each of which is connected to either said first gating means or one of said second gating means, said decoding means being operative to selectively activate either said first gating means or one of said second gating means upon activation of a particular output of said decoding means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 84 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 8 wherein the decoding means within the lowest ordered bit shift cells of each substage comprises: a first input for receiving said second signal indicating the direction of shift, at least a second input for receiving at least one signal indicating the amplitude of positional shift, said second input being connected to said gating means within said disabling means so as to receive a positional shift command of zero in response to said first signal indicating an arithmetic shift.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 52 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said shifting means comprises: a plurality of substages each consisting of n bit shift cells with n substage output lines, said plurality of n substage output lines being either connected to the following substage or to the n bit storage location of said register means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 158 words
In a shifting apparatus for shifting a block of data in response to a shift command, a plurality of shifting stages for successively shifting the block of data, each shifting stage having only the same number of n inputs for receiving individual bits occupying given bit positions within the incoming block of data, each shifting stage furthermore receiving a particular portion of the shift command, and wherein each shifting stage comprises: means for grouping said plurality of n inputs into a plurality of n subgroupings of inputs; and a plurality of only n bit shift cells, each of said bit shift cells being connected to a particular subgrouping of inputs, each bit shift cell comprising: a plurality of gating means, each of which is connected to at least one input of said particular subgrouping of inputs, and means for selectively activating only one of said plurality of gating means in response to a portion of said shift command.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 158 words
In a shifting apparatus for shifting a block of data in response to a shift command, a plurality of shifting stages for successively shifting the block of data, each shifting stage having only the same number of n inputs for receiving individual bits occupying given bit positions within the incoming block of data, each shifting stage furthermore receiving a particular portion of the shift command, and wherein each shifting stage comprises: means for grouping said plurality of n inputs into a plurality of n subgroupings of inputs; and a plurality of only n bit shift cells, each of said bit shift cells being connected to a particular subgrouping of inputs, each bit shift cell comprising: a plurality of gating means, each of which is connected to at least one input of said particular subgrouping of inputs, and means for selectively activating only one of said plurality of gating means in response to a portion of said shift command.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 51 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for selectively activating one of said gating means comprises: means for decoding the particular portion of the shift command for the particular substage, said decoding means having a plurality of outputs, each of which is connected to one of said gating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 264 words
Shifting apparatus for bidirectionally shifting a block of data up to 2k bit positions at a time wherein k is a whole number integer in response to a shift command, said shifting apparatus comprising: register means for storinG a block of data, said register means comprising a plurality of n bit storage locations, each bit storage location having an input for receiving a bit of information and a bit output for transmitting a bit of information; each bit storage location defining a particular bit position within said block of data, a first shifting stage connected to said n bit outputs of said register means, said first shifting stage receiving the block of data from said register means, and being operative to bidirectionally shift said block of data zero to three bit positions; a second shifting stage, connected to said bit inputs of said register means, said second shifting stage being operative to bidirectionally shift the block of data between 2k 1 bit positions and 2k 2 bit positions, at a time, said second shifting stage outputing the shifted block of data to said register means; and wherein each of said shifting stages comprises: a plurality of only n shifting stage inputs for receiving the block of data; and a plurality of only n bit shift cells, each bit shift cell occupying a specific bit position, each bit shift cell being furthermore connected to a respective subgrouping of said n shifting stage inputs, each bit shift cell comprising means, responsive to said shift command for bidirectionally shifting a bit of the incoming block of data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 264 words
Shifting apparatus for bidirectionally shifting a block of data up to 2k bit positions at a time wherein k is a whole number integer in response to a shift command, said shifting apparatus comprising: register means for storinG a block of data, said register means comprising a plurality of n bit storage locations, each bit storage location having an input for receiving a bit of information and a bit output for transmitting a bit of information; each bit storage location defining a particular bit position within said block of data, a first shifting stage connected to said n bit outputs of said register means, said first shifting stage receiving the block of data from said register means, and being operative to bidirectionally shift said block of data zero to three bit positions; a second shifting stage, connected to said bit inputs of said register means, said second shifting stage being operative to bidirectionally shift the block of data between 2k 1 bit positions and 2k 2 bit positions, at a time, said second shifting stage outputing the shifted block of data to said register means; and wherein each of said shifting stages comprises: a plurality of only n shifting stage inputs for receiving the block of data; and a plurality of only n bit shift cells, each bit shift cell occupying a specific bit position, each bit shift cell being furthermore connected to a respective subgrouping of said n shifting stage inputs, each bit shift cell comprising means, responsive to said shift command for bidirectionally shifting a bit of the incoming block of data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 131 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shift command comprises separate shift commands for each of the shifting stages, each separate shift command comprising an amplitude of shift command of bit positional shift and a direction of shift command and wherein each respective subgrouping of said n shifting stage inputs comprises: a first shifting stage input being operative to input a bit occupying the bit position corresponding to the particular bit shift cell; and a plurality of adjacent shifting stage inputs, each of which inputs a bit occupying a different bit position which is a given number of bit positions from the bit position occupied by the particular bit shift cell, the given number of bit positions corresponding to one of the bit positional shift possible within the particular substage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 102 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for bidirectionally shifting a bit of the incoming block of data in each of said bit shift cells comprises: first gating means for gating any bit present on said first shifting stage input to the output of said bit shift cell; a plurality of second gating means for gating respective bits present on the plurality of shifting stage inputs adjacent to said first shifting stage input to the output of said bit shift cell; and means for selectively activating one of said gating means in response to the shift command for the particular substage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 86 words
The shifting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for selectively activating one of said gating means comprises: means for decoding the shift command for the particular shifting stage, said decoding means having a plurality of outputs each of which is activated for a given shift command value for the particular shifting stage, one of said plurality of outputs being connected to said first gating means and the remainder of said plurality of outputs each being connected to one of said plurality of second gating means.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-20 1979-04-21 1979-10-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-20 1983-04-21 1983-10-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-20 1987-04-21 1987-10-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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