Versatile data shifter with sticky bit generation capability

A data shifter for binary data having a plurality n in number of bit places, said data shifter comprising:

• a first plurality of binary-place busses respectively identified by consecutive ordinal numbers zeroeth through (n-1).sup.th ;
• a second plurality of further binary-place busses also respectively identified by consecutive ordinal numbers zeroeth through (n-1).sup.th ;
• a plurality of input selectors respectively identified by consecutive ordinal numbers zeroeth through (n-1).sup.th for selecting respective bit places of input data to correspondingly identified binary-place busses in said first plurality thereof during shifts towards increased significance and to correspondingly identified further binary-place busses in said second plurality during shifts towards decreased significance;
• a plurality of output selectors respectively identified by consecutive ordinal numbers zeroeth through (n-1).sup.th for selecting respective bit places of output data from correspondingly identified further binary-place busses in said second plurality thereof during shifts towards increased significance and from correspondingly identified binary-place busses in said first plurality thereof during shifts towards decreased significance;
• a plurality n.sup.2 in number of switches, respective ones of said switches selectively connecting each of said first plurality of binary place busses to each of said second plurality of further binary place busses, as controlled by respective control signals received by said switches;
• a plurality of shift control busses respectively identified by consecutive ordinal numbers zeroeth through (n-1).sup.th, each shift control bus connected for applying control signals to those of said switches selectively connecting a binary-place bus in said first plurality to a further binary-place bus in said second plurality with identification number larger than its own by the identification number of that shift control bus;
• means for issuing a shift command to only a selected one of said shift control busses;
• a plurality of rotation control busses respectively identified by consecutive ordinal numbers first through (n-1).sup.th, each rotation control bus connected for applying control signals to those of said switches selectively connecting a further binary place bus in said second plurality to a binary-place bus in said first plurality with identification number larger than its own by the identification number of that rotation control bus;
• means, responsive, only whenever a rotation enable signal is supplied thereto, to a shift command appearing on one of said first through (n-1).sup.th shift control busses, for generating a rotation command on the rotation control bus with identification number corresponding to that of the shift control bus on which said shift command appears;
• means for supplying a respective fill bit to each said binary-place bus and further binary place bus in said first and second pluralities thereof that neither currently is selected by one of said input selectors nor is currently connected by one of said switches to a binary-place bus or further binary place bus in said first and second pluralities thereof that is currently selected by one of said input selectors;
• and
• means for generating a sticky bit comprising:
• respective means for performing logic corresponding to each of said zeroeth through (n-2).sup.th further binary-place busses in said second plurality thereof, being identified by the same ordinal numbers as the further binary-place busses with which said means for performing logic respectively correspond, having respective outputs in an OR connection with each other to supply said sticky bit, each said means for performing logic responding to a ONE appearing on a correspondingly identified further binary-place bus concurrently with a shift command appearing on any of the shift control busses identified by an ordinal number higher than that by which that said means for performing logic is itself identified to cause said sticky bit to be a ONE;
• and
• means for otherwise causing said sticky bit to be a ZERO.

A method for operating a barrel-shift data shifter structure including a matrix of switches, said method including the steps of:

• segregating switches within said matrix of switches into a first set which participate in a simple shift as well as a barrel shift and into a second set which participate only in a barrel shift;
• controlling said first set of switches with shift control signals alone;
• and
• controlling said second set of switches with responses to said shift control signals only in the presence of an additional rotation enable signal.