Neural networks and neural memory

Abstract

A neural pattern matcher is made up of an array of first sum and threshold SAT1 devices 18 each of which receives a number of inputs and a threshold value, and fires a 1 output if the number of inputs exceeds the threshold value. The outputs of the array of the SAT1 devices may be considered as a 2D image or generic template against which new data supplied into the registers 26 making up a data plane 24 are correlated at a correlation plane 20 of EX-NOR gates 22 . The outputs of the EX-NOR gates themselves may be summed and thresholded by a seconded sum and threshold device 28 to provide a neural output ‘1’ or ‘0’ indicating match or no match. The matcher may therefore behave as a neural auto-associative memory which continually adapts to the input data to recognize data of a particular specified class.

1 - 7 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       8 . A device for providing an output representative of a sum and threshold function performed on a weightless input and a threshold value, which comprises means for converting said weightless input into thermometer code as herein defined, and means for monitoring the bit at a bit position corresponding to said threshold.  
   
   
       9 . A device for providing an output representative of a sum and threshold function performed on a weightless input and a threshold value, which comprises a converter for converting said weightless input into thermometer code as herein defined, and a monitor for monitoring the bit at a bit position corresponding to said threshold.