Variable length decoder with enhanced throughput due to parallel processing of contiguous code words of identical type

摘要

A variable length decoder which is particularly suitable for decoding digital video data for HDTV. The variable length decoder operates to decode in parallel qualifying code words, such as payload data in an MPEG data stream, during a single clock cycle, and operates to decode singular non-qualifying code words, such as setup data in the MPEG data stream, during a single clock cycle. Since the payload data constitutes approximately 95% of the MPEG data stream, the throughput of the VLD of the present invention is significantly higher than that of the presently available VLDs, at a clock rate that is significantly lower than that of the presently available VLDs.