Patent ID: 8704689
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
1. A method of processing data comprising receiving a series of data samples (Y(1) Y(2) . . . Y(n), Y(n+1)), each sample being represented as an N-bit thermometer code, wherein the most significant bit thereof represents the sign of the data sample value Y(n) and the remaining N−1 bits represent the magnitude of the data sample; and executing a predetermined sequence of arithmetic operations directly on the series of N-bit thermometer code data samples to determine one of two values for each data sample, without any recoding of the thermometer code data samples; wherein the step of executing a predetermined sequence of arithmetic operations comprises: for each data sample Y(n), comparing the magnitude of the next consecutive data sample Y(n+1) in the series of data samples to a first threshold (th1); if the magnitude of Y(n+1) is less than the first threshold (th1), setting an adjusted value (Y adjust (n)) of data sample Y(n) to the value of data sample Y(n); if the magnitude of data sample Y (n+1) is not less than the threshold (th1), determining the sign of the data sample Y(n+1) from the MSB of Y(n+1); incrementing or decrementing the value of Y(n) in dependence on the sign of the data sample Y(n+1). comparing the magnitude of the adjusted value of Y(n) (Y adjust (n)) to a second threshold value (th2); determining one of two values for data sample Y(n) on the basis of the comparison with the second threshold value (th2.