Digital signal processor having instruction set with one or more non-linear functions using reduced look-up table with exponentially varying step-size

A vector-based digital signal processor, comprising:

• a circuitry to receive a vector including a set of scalar numbers, an identifier and a parameter for a non-linear function;
• at least one hardware non-linear functional unit that implements a non-linear function, wherein said hardware non-linear functional unit is invoked by said vector-based digital signal processor in response to a predefined software instruction keyword for said non-linear function, wherein said at least one hardware non-linear functional unit is configured to:
• obtain at least two values from at least one look-up table, the at least two values near each scalar number of said vector, x, wherein said at least one look-up table stores a subset of values for said non-linear function using exponentially-varying step sizes;
• and
• interpolate said at least two values obtained from said at least one look-up table to obtain a vector result, y, wherein said predefined software instruction keyword for said non-linear function is part of an instruction set of said vector-based digital signal processor, wherein the set of scalar numbers are simultaneously processed by said at least one hardware non-linear functional unit.

An integrated circuit, comprising:

• a vector-based digital signal processor for evaluating a non-linear function for a vector, x, the vector including scalar numbers, an identifier and a parameter for the non-linear function, the vector-based digital signal processor, comprising:
• at least one hardware non-linear functional unit that implements a non-linear function, wherein said at least one hardware non-linear functional unit is invoked by said vector-based digital signal processor in response to a predefined software instruction keyword for said non-linear function, wherein said at least one hardware non-linear functional unit is configured to simultaneously:
• obtain at least two values from at least one look-up table near each scalar number of said vector, x, wherein said at least look-up table stores a subset of values for a non-linear function using exponentially-varying step sizes;
• and
• an interpolator that interpolates at least two values obtained from said at least one look-up table to obtain a result.