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Computer methods and apparatus for eliminating leading non-significant digits in floating point computations

  • US 5,732,007 A
  • Filed: 06/01/1995
  • Issued: 03/24/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for generating a signal representing a shift amount for shifting a significand of a result of an operation on one or more floating point numbers to eliminate one or more leading non-significant digits of the significand, wherein the significand has zero or more leading non-significant digits and wherein the shift amount itself is comprised of one or more digits, the method comprising the steps of:

  • providing to an electrical circuit a signal representing significands of the one or more numbers;

    providing to the electrical circuit a signal representing a maximum value which the shift amount is not to exceed; and

    generating by the electrical circuit a signal representing at least one digit of the minimum of;

    (1) the total number of the leading non-significant digits of the significand of the result, the total number being greater than or equal to zero; and

    (2) said maximum value, said minimum being the shift amount, the electrical circuit being for generating said signal representing at least one digit of said minimum.

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