Matrix shifter

Claim 1

In a system for handling digital data in the form of N information bits represented by discrete logic states including a plurality of N input conductors representing bit positions 0 through N minus 1, where N is a positive integer, improved apparatus for shifting the data with respect to the bit positions comprising: N output conductors representing bit positions 0 through N minus 1; a zero shift conductor for transmitting a zero shift signal; zero shift switch means operatively connecting each input conductor to a corresponding output conductor representing a like bit position for switching each output conductor to the same logic state as the corresponding input conductor in response to the zero shift signal; right shift conductors representing right bit position shifts; right shift switch sets representing right bit position shifts, each switch set being operated by one of said right shift conductors representing a like right bit position shift; right shift switch means in each right shift switch set for operatively connecting one of said input conductors to one of said output conductors representing a bit position exceeding the bit position of said one input conductor by the number of right bit position shifts represented by the right shift conductor operating the switch means; left shift conductors representing left bit position shifts; left shift switch sets representing left bit position shifts, each switch set being operated by one of said left shift conductors representing a like left bit position shift; left shift means in each left shift switch set for operatively connecting one of said input conductors to one of said output conductors representing a bit position less than the bit position of the one input conductor by the number of left bit position shifts represented by the left shift conductor operating the left shift switch means; first control means for shifting the data present on the input conductors to the right by energizing the right shift conductor representing the number of right bit positions to be shifted; second control means for shifting the data Present on the input conductors to the left by energizing the left shift conductor representing the number of left bit positions to be shifted; third control means for rotating the data present on the input conductors to the right by energizing the right shift conductor representing the number of right bit positions to be rotated and by energizing the left shift conductor representing N minus the number of right bit positions to be rotated; and fourth control means for rotating the data present on the input conductors to the left by energizing the left shift conductor representing the number of left bit positions to be rotated and by energizing the right shift conductor representing N minus the number of left bit positions to be rotated.