Patent ID: 8466711
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: G06F,H03K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a programmable priority encoder configured to receive inputs, including an ordered list of a plurality of input request values each representing either a request or a non-request, and a starting position within the ordered list of the plurality of input request values; wherein the programmable priority encoder is configured to generate an identification of a result position of a first input indicating said request in order from a position identified from the starting position within the ordered list; wherein the programmable priority encoder includes a hierarchal structure of logic blocks including a plurality of columns of logic blocks; wherein a first-stage column of the plurality of columns of logic blocks is configured to operate on at most N input values; wherein the ordered list of the plurality of input request values consists of N input request values; and wherein the starting position is not a position of the first or the last input request value in the ordered list of the plurality of input request values.