Storage method for mixed precision weights in neural networks

A method for processing a plurality of weights with a weight bit size of a layer of an artificial neural network in a destination memory with a memory width, the method comprising the steps of:

• processing the weights;
• storing said processed weights in the destination memory
• wherein the step of processing the weights comprises the step of:
• dividing each weight into at least two separate weight slices with a fixed bit size for each weight, said fixed bit sizes preferably being equal for each weight slice, each comprising one or more bits and together defining the weight;
• and in that the step of storing said processed weights comprises the step of:
• storing each n-th separate weight slice of the weights sequentially into the destination memory, wherein n runs from 1 to the number of weight slices per weight, such that each word of the destination memory contains only the m-th weight slices of the weights, wherein m is a number between 1 and the number of weight slices per weight.