Samsung patents chip design that compares neural network weights to a reference
Samsung describes a neuromorphic device that stores neural network weights in memory cells and converts the resulting electrical currents into digital data. The invention includes a separate set of reference cells that generate a baseline signal, which a comparator circuit uses to check the accuracy of the main data.
In the filing’s own words
A neuromorphic device includes a plurality of cell tiles including a cell array including a plurality of memory cells storing a weight of a neural network, a row driver connected to the plurality of memory cells, and cell analog-digital converters connected to the plurality of memory cells and converting cell currents into a plurality of pieces of digital cell data, a reference tile including a plurality of reference cells, a reference row driver connected to the plurality of reference cells, and reference analog-digital converters connected to the plurality of reference cells and converting reference currents read via the plurality of reference column lines into a plurality of pieces of digital reference data, and a comparator circuit configured to compare the plurality of pieces of digital cell data with the plurality of pieces of digital reference data, respectively.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A neuromorphic device, comprising: a plurality of cell tiles, each of the plurality of cell tiles including: a cell array including a plurality of memory cells configured to store weights of a neural network, a row driver connected to the plurality of memory cells via a plurality of row lines, and at least one cell analog-digital converter (ADC) connected to the plurality of memory cells via a plurality of column lines, the at least one cell ADC configured to convert cell currents read via the plurality of column lines into a plurality of pieces of digital cell data; a reference tile distinct from the plurality of cell tiles, the reference tile including: a reference cell array including a plurality of reference cells, the reference cell array distinct from the cell array of each of the plurality of cell tiles, a reference row driver connected to the plurality of reference cells via a plurality of reference row lines, the reference row driver distinct from the row driver connected to the plurality of memory cells, and at least one reference ADC connected to the plurality of reference cells via a plurality of reference column lines, the at least one reference ADC configured to convert reference currents read via the plurality of reference column lines into a plurality of pieces of digital reference data, wherein the at least one reference ADC is distinct from the at least one ADC connected to the plurality of memory cells; and at least one comparator circuit configured to compare the plurality of pieces of digital cell data with the plurality of pieces of digital reference data.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
- Official title
- Neuromorphic device and electronic device including the same
- Patent number
- US12744080B2
- Application number
- 17747491
- Filed
- May 18, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 7
Classified under
G11C 11/54 Physics & computingG06F 7/50 Physics & computingG06N 3/063 Physics & computingG06N 3/065 Physics & computingG06N 3/08 Physics & computingG11C 11/161 Physics & computingMore from Samsung in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.