Patent ID: 7437402

Claim:
An electronic, binary word comparator for use in digital computing environments for comparing digital words and having a plurality of bit comparators and comparison sensing logic, for comparing, bit-wise, the values of a plurality of first bits of a first word with the values of corresponding second bits of a second word, comprising: a. each bit comparator including i. a first node and a second node and a switch connected between the first and second nodes, said switch being responsive to a bit mismatch control signal, and ii. an exclusive-OR circuit connected to receive the first bit and a corresponding second bit of the second word as inputs and having an output generating the bit mismatch control signal which selectively actuates the switch when the values of the first and second bits are mismatched; and b. the comparison sensing logic including i. a first node pre-charging circuit, ii. a second node pre-charging circuit and a second node discharging circuit operative to discharge the second node after the first and second nodes have been pre-charged, and iii. a logic circuit connected to sense a state of the first node to signal a bit mismatch if the bit mismatch control signal has been generated and the switch has been actuated and discharged the first node, after receiving a signal enabling operation of the logic circuit.