Electricity metering circuit for a matrix operation circuit, summation circuit and method for operation thereof

A summation circuit for forming partial sums of vector matrix operations, comprising:

• a matrix operation circuit that has a plurality of row lines each having one voltage terminal, and a plurality of column lines each having one current output, and the matrix operation circuit being configured to generate currents at the current outputs of the plurality of column lines, current strengths of which are a function of voltages applied to the voltage terminals;
• and
• one or more electricity metering circuits, each of the electricity metering circuits including:
• a circuit input;
• wherein the electricity metering circuit is configured to:
• provide a ground potential at the circuit input;
• integrate the input current at the circuit input over time;
• store a storage charge that is increased up to a predetermined maximum storage charge proportionally to the integrated input current, in accordance with a proportionality;
• quantify the integrated input current in a charge unit, where the charge unit corresponds to the maximum storage charge, taking into account the proportionality;
• and
• determine the integrated input current, rounded down to the nearest integer charge unit, as a count sum;
• wherein each of the electricity metering circuits is assigned to a respective group of the column lines that includes a number of column lines, current outputs of the column lines within a group being connected to the current input of the electricity metering circuit assigned to the group.

A method for operating a summation circuit for forming partial sums of vector matrix operations, the summation circuit including:

• a matrix operation circuit that has a plurality of row lines each having one voltage terminal, and a plurality of column lines each having one current output, and the matrix operation circuit being configured to generate currents at the current outputs of the plurality of column lines, current strengths of which are a function of voltages applied to the voltage terminals, and
• one or more electricity metering circuits, each of the electricity metering circuits including:
• a circuit input;
• wherein the electricity metering circuit is configured to:
• provide a ground potential at the circuit input,
• integrate the input current at the circuit input over time,
• store a storage charge that is increased up to a predetermined maximum storage charge proportionally to the integrated input current, in accordance with a proportionality,
• quantify the integrated input current in a charge unit, where the charge unit corresponds to the maximum storage charge, taking into account the proportionality, and
• determine the integrated input current, rounded down to the nearest integer charge unit, as a count sum,
• wherein each of the electricity metering circuits is assigned to a respective group of the column lines that includes a number of column lines, current outputs of the column lines within a group being connected to the current input of the electricity metering circuit assigned to the group,
• the method comprising the following steps:
• setting the count sum of each of the electricity metering circuits to zero;
• applying one or more vectors of a plurality of voltages to the voltage terminals for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• reading out the count sums.

A computing unit configured to operate a summation circuit for forming partial sums of vector matrix operations, the summation circuit including:

• a matrix operation circuit that has a plurality of row lines each having one voltage terminal, and a plurality of column lines each having one current output, and the matrix operation circuit being configured to generate currents at the current outputs of the plurality of column lines, current strengths of which are a function of voltages applied to the voltage terminals, and
• one or more electricity metering circuits, each of the electricity metering circuits including:
• a circuit input;
• wherein the electricity metering circuit is configured to:
• provide a ground potential at the circuit input,
• integrate the input current at the circuit input over time,
• store a storage charge that is increased up to a predetermined maximum storage charge proportionally to the integrated input current, in accordance with a proportionality,
• quantify the integrated input current in a charge unit, where the charge unit corresponds to the maximum storage charge, taking into account the proportionality, and
• determine the integrated input current, rounded down to the nearest integer charge unit, as a count sum,
• wherein each of the electricity metering circuits is assigned to a respective group of the column lines that includes a number of column lines, current outputs of the column lines within a group being connected to the current input of the electricity metering circuit assigned to the group,
• the computing unit configured to:
• set the count sum of each of the electricity metering circuits to zero;
• apply one or more vectors of a plurality of voltages to the voltage terminals for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• read out the count sums.

A computing module, comprising:

• a summation circuit for forming partial sums of vector matrix operations, the summation circuit including:
• a matrix operation circuit that has a plurality of row lines each having one voltage terminal, and a plurality of column lines each having one current output, and the matrix operation circuit being configured to generate currents at the current outputs of the plurality of column lines, current strengths of which are a function of voltages applied to the voltage terminals;
• and
• one or more electricity metering circuits, each of the electricity metering circuits including:
• a circuit input;
• wherein the electricity metering circuit is configured to:
• provide a ground potential at the circuit input;
• integrate the input current at the circuit input over time;
• store a storage charge that is increased up to a predetermined maximum storage charge proportionally to the integrated input current, in accordance with a proportionality;
• quantify the integrated input current in a charge unit, where the charge unit corresponds to the maximum storage charge, taking into account the proportionality;
• and
• determine the integrated input current, rounded down to the nearest integer charge unit, as a count sum;
• wherein each of the electricity metering circuits is assigned to a respective group of the column lines that includes a number of column lines, current outputs of the column lines within a group being connected to the current input of the electricity metering circuit assigned to the group;
• and
• a computing unit configured to operate the summation circuit, the computing unit configured to:
• set the count sum of each of the electricity metering circuits to zero;
• apply one or more vectors of a plurality of voltages to the voltage terminals for a predetermined period of time;
• and
• read out the count sums.