Abstract: A signal processing device comprising at least one control unit arranged to receive at least one pack-insert instruction, decode the received at least one pack-insert instruction, and output at least one pack-insert control signal in accordance with the received pack-insert instruction. The signal processing device further comprising at least one pack-insert component arranged to receive at least a first data block to be inserted into a sequence of data blocks to be output to at least one destination register, receive a plurality of further data blocks to be packed within the sequence of data blocks to be output to the at least one destination register, arrange the at least first data block and the plurality of further data blocks into a sequence of data blocks based at least partly on the at least one pack-insert control signal, and output the sequence of data blocks.

Abstract: A device is provided for computing a function value of a function F. The device includes a memory, a truncator unit, a selector unit, and an evaluator unit. The memory contains a look-up table comprising a set of entries, each entry having associated with it a domain and an approximation function for approximating F on the associated domain. The truncator unit is arranged to truncate or round a first value X1 to generate a second value X2. The selector unit is arranged to select an entry of the lookup-table according to the second value X2, thus selecting the approximation function that is associated with the selected entry. The evaluator unit is arranged to determine the function value of the selected approximation function at the first value X1.

Abstract: A path searcher for use in a spread spectrum receiver, including a correlator for correlating a received signal in different time positions with a reference code to select for further processing time positions of the signals showing the strongest correlations, wherein the correlator is operable to obtain a correlation energy result for each time position in a set of possible time positions, a comparator for comparing the correlation energy results with each of a plurality of energy thresholds and a recorder for recording data indicating time positions for correlation energy results which are not less than the respective thresholds in different groups corresponding to the respective thresholds. Also described is a semiconductor device and a receiver incorporating the path searcher and a method of operation of the path searcher.

Abstract: A device is provided for computing a function value of a function F. The device includes a memory, a truncator unit, a selector unit, and an evaluator unit. The memory contains a look-up table comprising a set of entries, each entry having associated with it a domain and an approximation function for approximating F on the associated domain. The truncator unit is arranged to truncate or round a first value X1 to generate a second value X2. The selector unit is arranged to select an entry of the lookup-table according to the second value X2, thus selecting the approximation function that is associated with the selected entry. The evaluator unit is arranged to determine the function value of the selected approximation function at the first value X1.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device comprising at least one digital signal processor (DSP) module, the at least one DSP module comprising a first data register and at least one further data register and at least one data execution unit (DEU) module arranged to execute operations on target data stored within the first data register and the at least one further data register. The at least one DEU module is arranged, upon receipt of a conditional negation instruction, to retrieve at least one conditional bit value from the first data register, and conditionally perform negation of target data within the at least one further data register according to the at least one retrieved conditional bit value.

Abstract: A path searcher for use in a spread spectrum receiver, including a correlator for correlating a received signal in different time positions with a reference code to select for further processing time positions of the signals showing the strongest correlations, wherein the correlator is operable to obtain a correlation energy result for each time position in a set of possible time positions, a comparator for comparing the correlation energy results with each of a plurality of energy thresholds and a recorder for recording data indicating time positions for correlation energy results which are not less than the respective thresholds in different groups corresponding to the respective thresholds. Also described is a semiconductor device and a receiver incorporating the path searcher and a method of operation of the path searcher.