Bidirectional Ring Oscillator MAC Circuit for Low-Power AI Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current AI processing hardware requires high-speed and low-power consumption capabilities to efficiently perform operations like integration and multiply-accumulate, which are frequently performed in AI arithmetic processing, but existing solutions do not adequately address these requirements.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device is designed with a digital-to-pulse converter and a bidirectional selective oscillator, which includes a first and second ring oscillator. The device outputs a pulse signal corresponding to digital input signals, and the bidirectional selective oscillator selects one of the ring oscillators based on the sign of the input signal, oscillating during pulse output and maintaining the oscillation state when the pulse stops, allowing for efficient integration and multiply-accumulate operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional hardware is used for AI processing, then basic arithmetic operations can be performed, but high-speed processing and low power consumption cannot be achieved simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional digital logic circuits with a ring oscillator-based system that uses pulse signals and oscillation states to perform arithmetic operations. This substitution of the underlying mechanism enables simultaneous high-speed operation and low power consumption by leveraging the natural oscillation properties of the ring oscillators rather than relying on traditional switching logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using the oscillation frequency and pulse width of ring oscillators to represent and process data. By varying the pulse signal characteristics (width, frequency) based on digital input values and using these to control oscillator states, the system achieves efficient arithmetic operations with reduced power consumption and increased speed
2Device complexity
If circuit design is simplified to reduce scale, then manufacturing cost and area are reduced, but processing capability for multiple digital input signals may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal processing unit where the ring oscillator serves multiple functions: it acts as both the arithmetic processing element and the state storage element. The bidirectional selective oscillator can process different types of operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication) and maintain state information, replacing what would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the time dimension to the processing by using temporal pulse signals and oscillation states rather than purely spatial circuit configurations. Multiple digital input signals are processed by sequencing pulses through the ring oscillator over time, with the oscillation state preserving information across time steps, effectively trading spatial complexity for temporal processing
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an information processing device, includes: a digital-to-pulse converter configured to output a pulse signal including a pulse with a pulse length corresponding to a digital input signal; and a bidirectional selective oscillator including a first ring oscillator and a second ring oscillator, the first ring oscillator including a plurality of delay elements connected in a ring shape in a first direction, the second ring oscillator including a plurality of delay elements connected in a ring shape in a second direction reverse to the first direction. The bidirectional selective oscillator is configured to select one of the first ring oscillator and the second ring oscillator depending on a sign of the digital input signal, oscillate the selected ring oscillator during a period when the pulse is outputted, and keep a state of oscillation operation when the pulse stops being outputted.