1. A system for finding a closest match of a plurality of N input patterns relative to a plurality of R reference patterns using a plurality of K processing units comprising: circuitry for loading a first input pattern into a first processing unit and a second input pattern into a second processing unit; circuitry for sending a selected same one of said R reference patterns to said first and second processing units in response to an index signal selecting a reference pattern; circuitry for calculating a first distance in said first processing unit, said first distance representing a similarity of said selected reference pattern to said first input pattern; circuitry for calculating a second distance in said second processing unit, said second distance representing a similarity of said selected reference pattern to said second input pattern; circuitry for saving said first distance as a present minimum first distance and saving a first identification corresponding to said selected reference pattern used to calculate said present minimum first distance if said first distance is smaller than a stored previous present minimum first distance; circuitry for saving said second distance as a present minimum second distance and saving a second identification corresponding to said selected reference pattern used to calculate said present minimum second distance if said second distance is smaller than a stored previous present minimum second distance; and circuitry for incrementing said index signal when said calculations of said first and second distance values are complete for each of said R reference patterns.