Method and apparatus for generating gray code for any even count value to enable efficient pointer exchange mechanisms in asynchronous FIFO's

摘要

A method and apparatus for generating Gray code for any even count value to enable efficient pointer exchange mechanisms in asynchronous FIFO's. Allowing Gray code for any range of even count values provides the benefit of decreasing metastability when exchanging pointers for FIFO buffers in asynchronous environments. Utilizing the Gray code adjacency principle, which provides that only one bit changes for any successive numbers, in a larger class of numbers than previously utilized, decreases metastability.