The continuous retina: image processing with a single-sensor artificial neural field network

Silicon retinas are typically implemented with multiple photosensors. Recent work with VLSI extended analog computers has led to a single-photosensor retina. An image focused on it generates a current gradient within the sensor that is discretized into an analog output vector, then classified by an artificial neural field network. A VLSI implementation recognizes several letters and fits on one MOSIS "TinyChip".