Differential Current-Source Circuitry for Weighted Sum Computation

The patent replaces traditional digital circuitry with mixed-signal circuitry that uses analog current sources to perform weighted sum computations. Current sources generate analog currents proportional to weight values, and these currents are summed directly in the analog domain, eliminating the need for digital multiplication and addition operations. This substitution of analog physical processes for digital computational processes significantly reduces circuit area while maintaining computation accuracy.

The patent replaces energy-intensive digital computation with energy-efficient analog current summation. In the analog domain, weighted values are represented by current magnitudes from current sources, and the weighted sum is obtained by directly summing these currents at a summation node. This physical current summation process consumes significantly less energy than digital multiplication and addition operations while preserving computation accuracy through precise current control.

The patent enables segmentation of AI processing functions by implementing lightweight mixed-signal computation circuits that can be deployed at edge devices. Instead of concentrating all compute power in remote systems, the patent's efficient mixed-signal circuitry allows inference operations to be performed locally at distributed edge nodes, reducing network transmission latency while maintaining sufficient compute power for real-time applications.

The patent implements AI processing at edge devices using mixed-signal circuitry that replaces bulky digital computation units with compact analog current source arrays. The current sources and summation circuits occupy minimal device area compared to digital processors, enabling real-time inference at the edge without significantly increasing device size. This analog implementation maintains low latency while keeping edge devices compact and power-efficient.