Semiconductor neural network and operating method thereof

A method of weighting internal output lines of a semiconductor neural network including:

• a plurality of input lines each for transmitting a data signal to be processed;
• a plurality of internal output lines provided in a direction intersecting said plurality of input lines and divided into a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of internal output lines and transmitting an internal output data signal;
• and
• a plurality of coupling elements provided at the intersections of said plurality of input lines and said plurality of internal output lines each for coupling, with a specific coupling strength, an input line with a corresponding internal output line and transmitting signals between said input line and said corresponding internal output line,
• said method comprising, concurrently in each group of said plurality of internal output lines, the steps of:
• loading said transmitted signal on each of said plurality of internal output lines with a previously selected weight to produce weighted signals concurrently in said plurality of groups;
• and
• adding all of said weighted signals on said plurality of internal output lines together to produce an output signal concurrently in said plurality of groups, wherein
• said step of adding includes the steps of:
• coupling all of said weighted signals to a first node for each of said groups to provide a summation signal;
• and
• amplifying said summation signal at said first node for output.

A method of weighting internal output lines of a semiconductor neural network including:

• a plurality of input lines each for transmitting a data signal to be processed;
• a plurality of internal output lines provided in a direction intersecting said plurality of input lines and divided into a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of internal output lines and transmitting an internal output data signal;
• and
• a plurality of coupling elements provided at the intersections of said plurality of input lines and said plurality of internal output lines each for coupling, with a specific coupling strength, an input line with a corresponding internal output line and transmitting signals between said input line and said corresponding internal output line,
• said method comprising, concurrently in each group of said plurality of internal output lines, after a step of coupling, with a specific coupling strength, an input line to a corresponding internal output line and transmitting signals between said input line and said corresponding output line, the steps of:
• loading said transmitted signal on each of said plurality of internal output lines with a previously selected weight to produce weighted signals concurrently in said plurality of groups;
• and
• adding all of said weighted signals on said plurality of internal output lines together to produce an output signal concurrently in said plurality of groups, wherein
• said plurality of internal output lines are arranged to form pairs in each group;
• and
• said step of adding comprises the steps of:
• transmitting a weighted signal from one internal output line of each pair to a first node to provide a first summation signal;
• transmitting said weighted signal from the other internal output line of each pair to a second node to provide a second summation signal;
• and
• differentially amplifying said first and second summation signals on said first and second nodes.

A method of weighting internal output lines of a semiconductor neural network including:

• a plurality of input lines each for transmitting a data signal to be processed;
• a plurality of internal output lines provided in a direction intersecting said plurality of input lines and divided into a plurality of groups, each group including a plurality of internal output lines and transmitting an internal output data signal;
• and
• a plurality of coupling elements provided at the intersections of said plurality of input lines and said plurality of internal output lines each for coupling, with a specific coupling strength, an input line with a corresponding internal output line and transmitting signals between said input line and said corresponding internal output line,
• said method comprising, concurrently in each group of said plurality of internal output lines, after a step of coupling, with a specific coupling strength, an input line to a corresponding internal output line and transmitting signals between said input line and said corresponding output line, the steps of:
• loading said transmitted signal on each of said plurality of internal output lines with a previously selected weight to produce weighted signals concurrently in said plurality of groups;
• and
• adding all of said weighted signals on said plurality of internal output lines together to produce an output signal concurrently in said plurality of groups, wherein
• said previously selected weight is different for different internal output lines.