Vector processing in scalar processors for signal processing algorithms

Product requirements often dictate the use of off-the-shelf processors for very fast signal processing applications. Additionally, restrictions on cost, power, or size/weight may preclude the use of specialized vector processors for implementation of the algorithms. We discuss a new method for performing signed parallel processing in scalar, off-the-shelf processors for integerized signal processing algorithms. Uniform data precision may be used, but is not required for the method. It is shown that the reduction in execution cycles resulting from this implementation is approximately linear in the size of the registers, divided by the precision required.