Patent ID: 8065322

Claim:
A binary search circuit which searches a database storing pieces of data aligned in ascending or descending order for comparison with target data by binary search, the binary search circuit being configured with a wired logic circuit and comprising: 2.sup.n−1 comparison circuits which compare pieces of data read out from the database with the comparison target data; and a control circuit which controls the comparison circuits, wherein, when the search range of the database is divided into 2.sup.n, the control circuit inputs each piece of data at the 1/2.sup.n, 2/2.sup.n, . . . , and (2.sup.n−1)/2.sup.n positions in the search range into the 2.sup.n−1 comparison circuits respectively and the comparison circuits compare the pieces of data thus input with the comparison target data, so as to perform n searches simultaneously in parallel.