Sorting networks using Lp mean comparators for signal processing applications

Digital implementations of sorting networks that rely on a digital signal processor core are not as efficient as their analog counterparts. This paper builds on the L_p comparators for which efficient analog implementations exist that employ operational amplifiers. From a statistical point of view, L_p comparators are based on nonlinear means. Their probability density function and the first- and second-order moments are derived for independent uniformly distributed inputs. L_p comparators provide estimates of the minimum and maximum of their inputs. A proper approach to compensate for the estimation errors is proposed. Applications of the L_p comparators in odd-even transposition networks, median approximation networks, and min/max networks are presented.