Electronic device, accelerator, and accelerating method applicable to convolutional neural network computation

An accelerator for performing a neural network operation to data in a memory, comprising:

• a register configured to store a plurality of parameters related to the neural network operation;
• a reader/writer configured to read the data from the memory;
• a controller coupled to the register and the reader/writer;
• and
• an arithmetic unit coupled to the controller, based on the parameters, the controller controlling the arithmetic unit to perform the neural network operation to the data to generate computed data.

An accelerating method applicable to a neural network operation, comprising:

• (a) receiving data;
• (b) utilizing a processor to execute a neural network application program;
• (c) in execution of the neural network application program, storing the data in a memory and sending a first signal to an accelerator;
• (d) using the accelerator to perform the neural network operation to generate computed data;
• (e) sending a second signal to the processor by using the accelerator after the neural network operation is accomplished;
• (f) continuing executing the neural network application program using the processor;
• and
• (g) determining whether to run the accelerator;
• if yes, the processor sends a third signal to the accelerator and goes back to step (d);
• if no, terminate the process.