12. A modulus encoder according to claim 8, further comprising means for adaptively determining the value of b in response to the values of said moduli.
12. A modulus encoder according to claim 8, further comprising means for adaptively determining the value of b in response to the values of said moduli. 14. A modulus encoder according to claim 12, wherein: said processing means is capable of performing division operations with a divisor having a maximum length of N bits and with a dividend having a maximum length of P bits; said means for adaptively determining is configured to determine the value of b in accordance with the following relationship: 1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.P-max [log.sub.2 M.sub.i ], .A-inverted.i; N.gtoreq.max[log.sub.2 M.sub.i ], .A-inverted.i; and M.sub.i represents said number of moduli.