Patent ID: 7447985

Claim:
A functional block that is operable to perform min** (min-double-star) processing in a decoder, the functional block comprising: a subtractor that is operable to calculate a difference between a first value and a second value; a summer that is operable to calculate a sum of the first value and the second value; a MUX (Multiplexor) that is operable to receive the first value, the second value, an opposite in sign value of the first value, and an opposite in sign value of the second value and whose select signals comprise a first sign bit corresponding to the difference between the first value and the second value and a second sign bit corresponding to the sum of the first value and the second value; a first log correction functional block that is operable to provide a first log correction factor based on an absolute value of the difference between the first value and the second value; and a second log correction functional block that is operable to provide a second log correction factor based on an absolute value of the sum of the first value and the second value.