Computational devices using thermometer coding and scaling networks on unary encoded data

A method of performing a digital computational operation, the method comprising:

• storing, in a register, an input binary-encoded number including fewer than N bits;
• converting, by a thermometer encoder, the input binary-encoded number to an N-bit encoded input value, wherein the N-bit encoded input value includes a thermometer unary encoded input value or an edge encoded input value;
• receiving, at digital computing circuitry through a plurality of N input wires, the N-bit encoded input value;
• applying, by a scaling network circuitry of the digital computing circuitry, a function to the N-bit encoded input value to produce the N-bit encoded output value that is different from the N-bit encoded input value by simultaneously electrically routing at least one input wire of the plurality of N input wires to at least two output wires of the plurality of N output wires;
• and
• outputting, by a plurality of N output wires, an N-bit encoded output value having the same number of bits as the N-bit encoded input value, wherein the N-bit encoded output value includes a thermometer unary encoded output value or an edge encoded output value.

A device comprising:

• a register configured to store a set of input binary bits, wherein the set of input binary bits encodes a first numerical value based on a base-two representation;
• input circuitry configured to convert a first subset of the set of binary bits to produce an input unary bit stream, wherein the input unary bit stream encodes a numerical value based on a proportion of high bits in the input unary bit stream to a total number of bits in the input unary bit stream;
• unary processing circuitry configured to perform operations on the input unary bit stream to produce a first set of output binary bits;
• binary processing circuitry configured to perform operations on a second subset of the set of binary bits to produce a second set of output binary bits, wherein the second set of output binary bits encodes a second numerical value based on the base-two representation;
• and
• output circuitry configured to produce a result based on the first set of output binary bits and the second set of output binary bits.

A device comprising:

• an encoder configured to convert a first portion of an input binary number to an N-bit encoded input value, wherein the N-bit encoded input value includes a thermometer unary encoded input value or an edge encoded input value;
• first logic circuitry comprising:
• a plurality of N input wires and a plurality of N output wires, each input wire of the plurality of N input wires configured to receive a respective input bit of the N-bit encoded input value, and each output wire of the plurality of N output wires configured to output a respective output bit of an N-bit encoded output value having the same number of bits as the encoded input value, wherein the N-bit encoded output value includes a thermometer unary encoded output value or an edge encoded output value;
• and
• scaling network circuitry configured to apply a function to the N-bit encoded input value to produce a first output unary bit stream having the N-bit encoded output value that is different from the N-bit encoded input value by simultaneously electrically routing at least one input wire of the plurality of N input wires to at least two output wires of the plurality of N output wires;
• second logic circuitry configured to perform operations on the N-bit encoded input value in parallel to produce a second output unary bit stream;
• a first multiplexer configured to select the first output unary number or the second output unary number based on a second portion of the input binary number;
• and
• decoder configured to convert the selected output unary bit stream to an output binary number.