Patent ID: 7308471
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A Booth encoder circuit for generating Booth encoded output bits for a first multi bit binary input for use in a process including, in a selectable manner, either: multiplying together the first multi bit binary input and a second multi bit binary input, or multiplying together groups of bits of said first multi bit binary input and groups of bits of said second multi bit binary input where the first and second multi bit binary inputs are each partitioned into N groups, where N is an integer of two or more, the Booth encoder circuit comprising: input connections for receiving a plurality of adjacent bits of the first multi bit binary input; an encoder control input connection for receiving a control input for selecting between said multiplication of first and second multi bit binary inputs and said multiplication of said groups of bits of said first multi bit binary input and said groups of bits of said second multi bit binary input; encoder logic to Booth encode said received bits of said first multi bit binary input to either generate unmodified Booth encoded output bits or modified Booth encoded output bits in dependence upon said received control input; and output connections for outputting the generated Booth encoded output bits for use by selector logic to select a partial product bit in dependence upon the generated Booth encoded output bits and adjacent bits of said second multi bit binary input.