Current-Holding Semiconductor Circuit for Low-Power Product-Sum Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial neural networks face challenges with increasing power consumption, heat generation, and variations in transistor characteristics as the number of layers and neurons increase, affecting circuit performance and arithmetic operations.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates first and second circuits with holding portions and driving transistors that manage current flow based on input potentials, reducing power consumption and minimizing the impact of temperature and transistor variations through specific current output configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of circuits corresponding to neurons and synapses increases to accommodate larger artificial neural networks, then the computing power and neural network scale are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the neural network computation into separate processing stages: synaptic weight storage, signal transmission, and summation operations. Each stage is handled by dedicated circuit components (holding portions, driving transistors, wiring), allowing independent optimization of power consumption at each segment while maintaining overall computing power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the circuit elements, specifically using holding portions to maintain stable voltage levels and driving transistors to control current flow dynamically. This parameter optimization reduces unnecessary power consumption while preserving the computational capabilities of the neural network.
2Productivity
If the number of circuits corresponding to neurons and synapses increases to accommodate larger artificial neural networks, then the computing power and neural network scale are improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the circuit into distinct functional blocks (holding portions, driving transistors, input wiring, output wiring), the patent distributes heat generation across multiple isolated components rather than concentrated circuits. This segmentation allows for better thermal management and reduces overall heat impact on the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate components (holding portions and driving transistors) that mediate between input signals and output computations. These intermediary elements reduce direct current flow and associated heat generation in critical computation paths, thereby reducing overall heat generation while maintaining computing power.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard circuit elements are used in the semiconductor device, then ease of manufacture is improved, but circuit performance is affected by temperature variations and transistor characteristic variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the operational parameters of standard circuit elements by introducing holding portions that maintain stable voltage levels and driving transistors that provide controlled current flow. These parameter changes make the circuit performance less sensitive to temperature and transistor variations while still using manufacturable standard components.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device capable of product-sum operation with low power consumption is provided. The semiconductor device includes first and second circuits; the first circuit includes a first holding portion and a first transistor, and the second circuit includes a second holding portion and a second transistor. The first and second circuits are each electrically connected to first and second input wirings and first and second wirings. The first holding portion has a function of holding a first current flowing through the first transistor, and the second holding portion has a function of holding a second current flowing through the second transistor. The first and second currents are determined in accordance with first data. When a potential corresponding to second data is input to the first and second input wirings, the first circuit outputs a current to one of the first wiring and the second wiring and the second circuit outputs a current to the other of the first wiring and the second wiring. The amount of current output from the first or second circuit to the first wiring or the second wiring is determined in accordance with the first data and the second data.