Patent ID: 6192497
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
A Chien search circuit for determining roots of an error locator polynomial that is defined by a set of coefficients, the circuit comprising:N sub-Chien search circuits, each sub-Chien search circuit configured to sequentially evaluate a subset of field elements from a specified set of field elements in parallel with other sub-Chien search circuits, each of the sub-Chien search circuit including:a set of storage elements for storing a set of values, the storage elements initially receiving and storing the set of coefficients as the set of values, one storage element for each coefficient;a set of constant multipliers coupled to receive the set of values from the set of storage elements, one constant multiplier being associated with one storage element, each of the constant multipliers being associated with a constant field element and being configured to multiply the received value and the constant field element to generate a product, wherein each of the constant multipliers is coupled to feed the product to the associated storage element for storage;an adder coupled to receive the stored set of values from the set of storage elements for generating a sum of the received set of values for a current field element being evaluated; anda comparator coupled to receive the sum for comparing the sum to a specified constant value, the comparator generating a signal indicating that the current field element is a root when the sum is equal to the specified constant value.