Division with speculation of quotient digits

The speed of SRT-type dividers is mainly determined by the complexity of the quotient-digit selection, so that implementations are limited to low-radix stages. A scheme is presented in which the quotient-digit is speculated and, when this speculation is incorrect, a rollback or a partial advance is performed. This results in a division operation with a shorter cycle time and a variable number of cycles. Several designs have been realized, and a radix-64 implementation that is 30% faster than the fastest conventional implementation (radix-8) at an increase of about 45% in area per quotient bit has been obtained. A radix-16 implementation that is about 10% faster than the radix-8 conventional one, with the additional advantage of requiring about 25% less area per quotient bit, is also shownPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A radix-16 SRT division unit with speculation of the quotient digits

The speed of a divider based on a digit-recurrence algorithm depends mainly on the latency of the quotient digit generation function. In this paper we present an analytical approach that extends the theory developed for standard SRT division and permits us to implement division schemes where a simpler function speculates the quotient digit. This leads to division units with shorter cycle time and variable latency since a speculation error may be produced and a post-correction of the quotient may be necessary. We have applied our algorithm to the design of a radix-16 speculative divider for double precision floating point numbers, that resulted in being faster than analogous implementations.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

On digit-recurrence division algorithms for self-timed circuits

The optimization of algorithms for self-timed or asynchronous circuits requires specific solutions. Due to the variable-time capabilities of asynchronous circuits, the average computation time should be optimized and not only the worst case of the signal propagation. If efficient algorithms and implementations are known for asynchronous addition and multiplication, only straightforward algorithms have been studied for division. This paper compares several digit-recurrence division algorithms (speed, area and circuit activity for estimating the power consumption). The comparison is based on simulations of the different operators described at the gate level. This work shows that the best solutions for asynchronous circuits are quite different from those used in synchronous circuits

High sample-rate Givens rotations for recursive least squares

The design of an application-specific integrated circuit of a parallel array processor is considered for recursive least squares by QR decomposition using Givens rotations, applicable in adaptive filtering and beamforming applications. Emphasis is on high sample-rate operation, which, for this recursive algorithm, means that the time to perform arithmetic operations is critical. The algorithm, architecture and arithmetic are considered in a single integrated design procedure to achieve optimum results. A realisation approach using standard arithmetic operators, add, multiply and divide is adopted. The design of high-throughput operators with low delay is addressed for fixed- and floating-point number formats, and the application of redundant arithmetic considered. New redundant multiplier architectures are presented enabling reductions in area of up to 25%, whilst maintaining low delay. A technique is presented enabling the use of a conventional tree multiplier in recursive applications, allowing savings in area and delay. Two new divider architectures are presented showing benefits compared with the radix-2 modified SRT algorithm. Givens rotation algorithms are examined to determine their suitability for VLSI implementation. A novel algorithm, based on the Squared Givens Rotation (SGR) algorithm, is developed enabling the sample-rate to be increased by a factor of approximately 6 and offering area reductions up to a factor of 2 over previous approaches. An estimated sample-rate of 136 MHz could be achieved using a standard cell approach and O.35pm CMOS technology. The enhanced SGR algorithm has been compared with a CORDIC approach and shown to benefit by a factor of 3 in area and over 11 in sample-rate. When compared with a recent implementation on a parallel array of general purpose (GP) DSP chips, it is estimated that a single application specific chip could offer up to 1,500 times the computation obtained from a single OP DSP chip

Fast decimal floating-point division

A new implementation for decimal floating-point (DFP) division is introduced. The algorithm is based on high-radix SRT division The SRT division algorithm is named after D. Sweeney, J. E. Robertson, and T. D. Tocher. with the recurrence in a new decimal signed-digit format. Quotient digits are selected using comparison multiples, where the magnitude of the quotient digit is calculated by comparing the truncated partial remainder with limited precision multiples of the divisor. The sign is determined concurrently by investigating the polarity of the truncated partial remainder. A timing evaluation using a logic synthesis shows a significant decrease in the division execution time in contrast with one of the fastest DFP dividers reported in the open literatureHooman Nikmehr, Braden Phillips and Cheng-Chew Li

Radix-16 signed-digit division

Journal ArticleFor use in the context of a linearly scalable arithmetic architecture supporting high/variable precision arithmetic operations (integer or fractional), a two-stage algorithm for fixed point, radix-16 signed-digit division is presented. The algorithm uses two limited precision radix-4 quotient digit selection stages to produce the full radix-16 quotient digit.The algorithm requires a two digit estimate of the (initial) partial remainder and a three digit estimate of the divisor to correctly select each successive quotient digit. The normalization of redundant signed-digit numbers requires accommodation of some fuzziness at one end of the range of numeric values that are considered normalized. A set of general equations for determining the ranges of normalized signed-digit numbers is derived. Another set of general equations for determining the precisions of estimates of the divisor and dividend required in a limited precision SRT model signed-digit division are derived. These two sets of equations permit design tradeoff analyses to be made with respect to the complexity of the model division. The specific case of a two-stage radix-16 signed-digit division is presented. The staged division algorithm used can be extended to other radices as long as the signed-digit number representation used has certain properties

High-radix division and square-root with speculation

The speed of high-radix digit-recurrence dividers and square-root units is mainly determined by the complexity of the result-digit selection. We present a scheme in which a simpler function speculates the result digit, and, when this speculation is incorrect, a rollback or a partial advance is performed. This results in operations with a shorter cycle time and a variable number of cycles. The scheme can be used in separate division and square-root units, or in a combined one. Several designs were realized and compared in terms of execution time and area. The fastest unit considered is a radix-512 divider with a partial advance of six bits.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version