Patent ID: 7395303

Claim:
A method for comparing binary data words, comprising: splitting each of a first data word and a second data word into at least two subwords including one high-order-bit subword and one low-order-bit subword; comparing the high-order-bit subword of the first data word to the high-order-bit subword of the second data word in a first comparing device to produce a first intermediate comparison result; comparing the low-order-bit subword of the first data word to the low-order-bit subword of the second data word in a second comparing device to produce a second intermediate comparison result; applying a control signal to a correction device connected between at least one of the two comparing devices and a logic device; and gating the two intermediate comparison results in the logic device, depending on the control signal applied to the correction device, wherein an output of the logic device is provided as an overall result; wherein the overall result is usable for situation-dependent handling in a vehicle system.