US Patent 7420993 Variable length code multiplexer and variable length code demultiplexer

A variable length code multiplexer multiplexes a plurality of input codes (102) including a variable length code into a multiplexed code (121) and outputs the multiplexed code (121). The multiplexer includes a forward direction multiplexing unit (22) for multiplexing the plurality of input codes (102) one by one so that they are running in a forward direction from a head of the multiplexed code (121) to a tail of the multiplexed code (121), a backward direction multiplexing unit (23) for multiplexing the plurality of input codes (102) one by one so that they are running in a backward direction from the tail of the multiplexed code (121) to the head of the multiplexed code (121), and a selection unit (25) for selecting either the forward direction multiplexing unit (22) or the backward direction multiplexing unit (23) for each of the plurality of input codes (102).