Signal processing unit and method for searching for peaks in a two-dimensional matrix

A signal processing unit and a method for searching for peaks in a two-dimensional matrix of numbers are described. The matrix is analyzed row by row and then column by column. Analyzing a row comprises, for each element of the row, tagging the element in response to determining that the element is a local maximum of the row Analyzing a column comprises determining a bit field associated with the column by determining, for each element of the column, a corresponding bit field element Determining the bit field element comprises: if the element of the column has not been tagged, setting the bit field element to a predefined first value, and, if the element of the column has been tagged, determining whether the element is a local maximum and, in this case, setting the bit field element to a predefined second value different from the first value and, otherwise, setting the bit field element to the first value.