[adrian_b]

Sorry, but this argument about the single-cycle implementation is complete BS.

Any logic designer, who is not completely incompetent, when seeing the expression

(a / 2) + (b / 2) + (a & b & 1);

will notice that this is a 1-cycle operation, because it is just an ordinary single addition.

In hardware the divisions are made just by connecting the bits of the operands in the right places. Likewise, the "& 1" is done by connecting the LSB's of the operands to a single AND gate and the resulting bit is connected to the carry of the adder, so no extra hardware devices beyond a single adder are needed. This is really absolutely trivial for any logic designer.

The questions at any hiring interview, even for beginners, would be much more complex than how to implement this expression.

It is absolutely certain that such a patent should have never been granted, because both the formula and its implementation are obvious for any professional in the field.