Active solid-state devices (e.g. – transistors – solid-state diode – Responsive to non-electrical signal – Electromagnetic or particle radiation
Patent
1995-06-16
1997-08-05
Jackson, Jerome
Active solid-state devices (e.g., transistors, solid-state diode
Responsive to non-electrical signal
Electromagnetic or particle radiation
257 21, 257189, 257431, 257439, H01L 4500, H03K 1923, H03K 1914, G06G 700
Patent
active
056545797
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electronic component.
STATE OF THE ART
In numerous image processing methods, e.g., in morphological methods such as erosion and dilation filtering, in image norming, in pattern detection, pattern completion as well as in classification, the concept of "the winner take all" plays a decisive role. This means that from a number of numerical values, always the largest value is taken. These numerical values may be already preprocessed and/or reduced data, such as is usually the case in a classification, or raw data, like those being present in filtering original images.
In the use of new signal and image processing methods, e.g., with the aid of neuronal networks, "the winner take all" is an important concept as well. Thus, the decision as to which neuron has the largest value is made at the output of a back-propagation network.
The principle "the winner take all" is also the decisive function principle of synergetic computers: The concept of synergetic computers was developed by H. Haken and collaborators (H. Haken, Synergetic Computers and Cognition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1991) and is distinguished by very high performance in the fields of pattern detection, pattern completion and classification. Furthermore, it is suited for monitored and unmonitored learning.
A synergetic computer is essentially composed of two modules.
In the first module, the raw data are preprocessed, e.g., the image data are prepared to be invariant, referring to translation, rotation and scaling, and are allocated to so-called order parameters by comparison with stored prototypes.
The second module subjects the order parameters to a decision or displacement dynamics, in which the initially strongest order parameter is predominating, i.e. converging toward 1, whereas all other order parameters become 0. Here, the principle of "the winner take all" applies as well.
A component, i.e., a device, which filters out the largest value amongst the many parallel input signals present and, in particular, filters out the largest value of those signals representing order parameters, as quickly as possible, would be a very valuable component for a synergetic computer but also for other processes that employ the principle "the winner take all" mentioned in the introduction. A component that realizes these decision principles on the hardware side is hitherto not known.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is a main objective of the present invention to provide a component that filters out on the hardware side the input signal with the initially largest value from a number of parallel input signals, with the output signals belonging to the remaining ones of the parallel input signals becoming zero.
An invention which achieves this objective is set forth in the appended claims.
The component (or device) according to the present invention is provided with a component body with N input connections to which (up to) N input signals can be applied, and M output connections of which each is allocated to one or multiple input connections. Current paths, respectively current filaments, connecting the N input connections to the M output connections initially are formed in dependence on the input signals in the component body.
In order to realize decision respectively displacement dynamics, an external physical effect applied to the component switches the current flowing through the component body between the initial distribution, in which the current density (j.sub.i) between each input connection and the respective output connection correspond to the input signal applied to the respective input connection, and a self-organizing distribution, in which the current still only flows between the input connection, to which the input signal with the largest value is applied, and its respective output connection(s).
The invention is directed to a component which, by way of illustration, can be utilized to realize a synergetic computer, because it itself works according to synergetic, i.e., self-organizing princip
REFERENCES:
patent: 4961096 (1990-10-01), Idesawa
patent: 5093803 (1992-03-01), Howard et al.
patent: 5220445 (1993-06-01), Takenaka et al.
Mazzola et al, Appl. Phys Lett vol. 59 No. 10 2 Sep. 1991 "Analysis . . . afts Photoconductor".
Haken "Synergetic Computers and Recognition" 1991 Springer Verlaa, Berlin pp. 56-59.
Bauer Norbert
Bobel Friedrich
Haken Hermann
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung
Jackson Jerome
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