Method for parallel processing of fuzzy logic inference rules and corresponding circuit architecture with fuzzy inputs and outputs

A circuit for parallel processing of multiple fuzzy logic inference rules of the type, the circuit comprising:

• at least one inferential unit;
• at least one data bus;
• and
• at least one union block, wherein the inferential unit has a modular structure and includes a plurality of identical inferential processing lines connected in parallel between the data bus and the union block, each individual inferential processing line being capable of processing a fuzzy logic inference rule so that a series of intermediate truth levels is generated for each fuzzy logic inference rule, wherein the last of the series of intermediate truth levels generated for each fuzzy logic inference rule is considered to be an overall truth level for that rule, wherein at least one of the intermediate truth levels of at least one of the fuzzy logic inference rules is based on an OR logical operation, and wherein the union block provides a fuzzy logic output based on the overall truth level for each fuzzy logic inference rule.

A fuzzy logic system for processing a plurality of fuzzy logic rules, the fuzzy logic system comprising:

• a plurality of fuzzy logic lines, each fuzzy logic line corresponding to a fuzzy logic rule and including:
• an evaluating device that serially provides at least one weight of terms of an antecedent of the rule corresponding to the fuzzy logic line,
• a calculating device that provides a series of intermediate partial truth values according to the at least one weight of terms serially provided by the evaluating device, wherein the last intermediate partial truth value in the series is considered an overall truth value, and wherein at least one fuzzy logic rule includes an OR logical operator such that at least one overall truth value is based on an OR logical operation, and
• a processing device that provides a processed signal based on the overall truth and a consequent of the rule;
• and
• a union device that receives, in parallel, the processed signal provided by each fuzzy logic line, and provides a fuzzy logic signal based on the processed signal provided by each fuzzy logic line.