Vector logic method and dynamic mousetrap logic gate for a self-timed

Abstract

A dynamic mousetrap logic gate implements a self-timed monotonic logic progression via a novel vector logic method. In the vector logic method, a vector logic variable is defined by a plurality of vector components situated on respective logic paths. Boolean as well as non-Boolean variables can be represented. Further, timing information is encoded in the vector logic variable itself by defining the vector logic variable as invalid when all the vector components currently exhibit a logic low and by defining the vector logic variable as valid when a subset of the vector components exhibits a logic high. With a plurality of valid vector logic states, subsets defining valid vector logic states are nonoverlapping. The mousetrap logic gate comprises a plurality of gate components in parallel, corresponding with each output vector component. Each gate component has an arming mechanism, a ladder logic, and an inverting buffer mechanism. The ladder logic performs logic functions on one or more input vectors and provides the result to the inverting buffer mechanism. The arming mechanism periodically precharges the inverting buffer input to drive the gate component output to a logic low until the inverting buffer mechanism is triggered by the ladder logic.