DYMPLES-an analogue current mode pulsed synapse

Several artificial neural network (ANN) implementations require two-quadrant multiplications for neural state computations. Almost all previous analogue hardware implementations of two-quadrant multipliers for ANNs have used circuits operating in voltage mode. In the paper a chip consisting of synapses using current mode principles is presented. By basing the multiplier circuits on dynamic current mirrors, the aspirations were to produce synapse arrays that were easy to set up, were robust and cascadable and that also possessed better process tolerance than previous voltage mode devices. The hardware results presented from the Dynamic Mirror Pulsed Experimental Synapse (DYMPLES) chip are extremely encouraging, fulfilling all initial aspirations and showing that the synapse design does indeed possess the potential for process tolerance.