Coupled Ring Oscillator Compute Engine for Room-Temperature Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hardware implementations for solving combinatorial optimization problems require quantum devices operating at cryogenic temperatures or digital logic without coupling dynamics, making them inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

The development of compute engine circuitry using coupled ring oscillators to represent spin network mappings, allowing for the solution of combinatorial optimization problems at room temperature with digital logic and coupling dynamics, without the need for quantum devices or special processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quantum devices are used to implement spin networks, then the ability to solve combinatorial optimization problems is achieved, but the operating temperature requirement becomes cryogenic temperatures which is impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to solve combinatorial optimization problemsVSAvoidoperating temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces quantum mechanical systems with classical electronic oscillators. Ring oscillators built from CMOS logic gates simulate spin dynamics through electrical signals, eliminating the need for quantum effects and cryogenic temperatures while maintaining the ability to solve combinatorial optimization problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from cryogenic to room temperature by transitioning from quantum devices to classical electronic oscillators. The ring oscillators operate at standard semiconductor temperatures, making the system practical for real-world deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If digital logic without coupling dynamics is used, then hardware implementation is simplified, but the natural energy minimization mechanism is lost requiring external control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware implementation complexityVSAvoidnatural energy minimization mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic coupling between ring oscillators through shared current sources and capacitive coupling. This creates natural dynamics where oscillators automatically adjust their phases to minimize system energy, eliminating the need for external control while maintaining manageable hardware complexity through local interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If special processes are required for hardware implementation, then spin network functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespin network functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses universal CMOS ring oscillator cells that can be manufactured using standard semiconductor processes. The same basic cell structure serves multiple functions by configuring coupling connections to represent different problem graphs, eliminating the need for special manufacturing processes while maintaining spin network functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables efficient solution of combinatorial optimization problems at room temperature, overcoming the limitations of previous hardware implementations by using coupled ring oscillators to estimate the total energy of spin network mappings, thus providing a cost-effective and practical solution.

Implementation Method 1

compute engine circuitry that utilizes coupled ring oscillators to represent spin network mappings... Each coupling block connects the ring oscillator of the cell to the ring oscillator of one of a plurality of neighboring cells to form a coupled ring oscillator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoupling dynamics:

Data Source

PatentUS11875272B2Probabilistic compute engine using coupled ring oscillators

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

AI summary

Compute engine circuitry configured to represent a spin network mapping of a graph representing a combinatorial optimization problem includes a plurality of ring oscillator cells, each of which includes a ring oscillator having an oscillator output, at least one coupling block, and a read block. Each coupling block connects the ring oscillator of the cell to the ring oscillator of one of a plurality of neighboring cells to form a coupled ring oscillator. The read block generates a state output for each coupled ring oscillator that indicates whether the coupled ring oscillator is in one of a same-phase state, in which the connected ring oscillators oscillate in phase with each other, and an opposite-phase state, in which the connected ring oscillators oscillate in an opposite phase from each other. A controller is configured to output a total energy of the mapping based on the state outputs.