학술논문

Process Scalability of Pulse-Based Circuits for Analog Image Convolution
Document Type
Periodical
Source
IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, IEEE Transactions on. 65(9):2929-2938 Sep, 2018
Subject
Components, Circuits, Devices and Systems
Neurons
Computer architecture
Computational modeling
Capacitors
Convolution
Integrated circuit modeling
Analytical models
Time-mode circuits
convolution
spiking neurons
neuromorphic circuits
Language
ISSN
1549-8328
1558-0806
Abstract
This paper studies the process scalability of pulse-mode CMOS circuits for analog 2-D convolution in computer vision systems. A simple, scalable architecture for an integrate and fire neuron is presented for implementing weighted addition of pulse-frequency modulated (PFM) signals. Sources of error are discussed and modeled in a detailed behavioral simulation and compared with equivalent transistor-level simulations. Next, the design of a 180-nm PFM chip with programmable weights is presented, and full image convolutions are demonstrated with the analog hardware. Preliminary chip measurements for a 45-nm implementation are also included to demonstrate process scalability. Design considerations for porting this architecture to nanometer processes, including FinFET technologies, are then discussed. This paper concludes with a simulation study on scaling down to 10 nm using a predictive technology model.