Apple patents chip trick to skip math when answers are obvious
Apple describes a circuit design that predicts the result of a math comparison before the main calculation runs. If the prediction shows the result is certain, the main circuit turns off to save energy.
In the filing’s own words
An arithmetic-compare circuit that includes a first logic circuit and a second logic circuit is disclosed. The first logic circuit may perform an arithmetic-compare operation using a first operand, a second operand, and a third operand. The second logic circuit may determine respective leading-zero counts for the first operand, the second operand and the third operand, and predict a result of the arithmetic-compare operation using the respective leading zero counts. The first logic circuit may be disabled based on the predicted result.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first logic circuit configured to: determine respective leading-zero counts for a first operand, a second operand and a third operand; and predict, using the respective leading-zero counts for the first operand, the second operand, and the third operand, a first result of an arithmetic-compare operation; and a second logic circuit configured to disable, using the first result, an execution of the arithmetic-compare operation.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- LOW-POWER OPERATIONS USING LEADING ZERO COUNT
- Publication number
- US20260267650A1
- Application number
- 19075555
- Filed
- Mar 10, 2025
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 9/3832 Physics & computingG06F 9/30021 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.