Model calculation unit and control device for calculating a multi-layer perceptron model

A control device comprising:

• a microprocessor;
• and
• one or more hardwired hardware-implemented model calculation units (a) for calculating a multi-layer perceptron model that defines how neurons of each of a plurality of neuron layers of a neural network operate using code that defines a set of configuration parameters to be operated upon for calculation of each of the plurality of neuron layers of the neural network, respective values of the configuration parameters being variable for the calculation of different ones of the plurality of neuron layers and (b) that each includes a processor core, a memory, and a Direct Memory Access (DMA) unit;
• wherein:
• the processor core is configured to calculate one or more respective output quantities of the neuron layers of the multi-layer perceptron model having a number of neurons as a function of one or more input quantities of respective input quantity vectors;
• the memory includes, for each neuron layer:
• a respective configuration memory region that, prior to the calculating of the multi-layer perception model, stores representations of the respective values of respective instances of the set of configuration parameters in a respective one of a plurality of configuration memory segments, which is uniquely assigned to the respective neuron layer, the respective configuration memory segment including a respective register for each of the configuration parameters of the set, a respective register with a first pointer to the input quantities of the respective input quantity vector of the respective neuron layer, and a respective register with a second pointer to the output quantities of the respective neuron layer;
• and
• a data storage region for storing in a first respective data storage segment, the input quantities of the respective input quantity vector of the respective neuron layer to which the respective first pointer of the respective neuron layer points, and for storing in a second respective data storage segment the one or more output quantities to which the respective second pointer of the respective neuron layer points;
• and
• the DMA unit is configured to successively instruct the processor core to calculate a respective neuron layer of the multi-layer perceptron model by executing code using the respective instance of the set of configuration parameters of the respective one of the configuration memory segments assigned to the respective neuron layer, and to calculate the input quantities defined thereby of the input quantity vector, and to store respectively resulting output quantities in a respective one of the data storage segments.

A method of a control device that controls an engine system of a motor vehicle, wherein the control device includes (a) a microprocessor and (b) one or more hardwired hardware-implemented model calculation units (i) for calculating a multi-layer perceptron model that defines how neurons of each of a plurality of neuron layers of a neural network operate using code that defines a set of configuration parameters to be operated upon for calculation of each of the plurality of neuron layers of the neural network, respective values of the configuration parameters being variable for the calculation of different ones of the plurality of neuron layers and (ii) that each includes a processor core, a memory, and a Direct Memory Access (DMA) unit, the method comprising:

• calculating, by the processor core one or more respective output quantities of the neuron layers of the multi-layer perceptron model having a number of neurons as a function of one or more input quantities of respective input quantity vectors;
• for each neuron layer:
• a respective configuration memory region, prior to the calculating of the multi-layer perception model, storing representations of the respective values of respective instances of the set of configuration parameters in a respective one of a plurality of configuration memory segments, which is uniquely assigned to the respective neuron layer, the respective configuration memory segment including a respective register for each of the configuration parameters of the set, a respective register with a first pointer to the input quantities of the respective input quantity vector of the respective neuron layer, and a respective register with a second pointer to the output quantities of the respective neuron layer;
• and
• a data storage region of the memory:
• storing in a first respective data storage segment, the input quantities of the respective input quantity vector of the respective neuron layer to which the respective first pointer of the respective neuron layer points;
• and
• storing in a second respective data storage segment the one or more output quantities to which the respective second pointer of the respective neuron layer points;
• and
• the DMA unit successively instructing the processor core to:
• calculate a respective neuron layer of the multi-layer perceptron model by executing code using the respective instance of the set of configuration parameters of the respective one of the configuration memory segments assigned to the respective neuron layer;
• calculate the input quantities defined thereby of the input quantity vector;
• and
• store respectively resulting output quantities in a respective one of the data storage segments.