US 9,070,039 B2 · Temporal winner takes all spiking neuron network sensory processing apparatus and methods

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for contrast enhancement and feature identification. In one implementation, an image processing apparatus utilizes latency coding and a spiking neuron network to encode image brightness into spike latency. The spike latency is compared to a saliency window in order to detect early responding neurons. Salient features of the image are associated with the early responding neurons. An inhibitory neuron receives salient feature indication and provides inhibitory signal to the other neurons within an area of influence of the inhibitory neuron. The inhibition signal reduces probability of responses by the other neurons to stimulus that is proximate to the feature thereby increasing contrast within the encoded data. The contrast enhancement may facilitate feature identification within the image. Feature detection may be used for example for image compression, background removal and content distribution.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus configured to store at least one computer process thereon, the computer process configured to detect an object in a sensory input, the computer process comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed:

based on at least one excitatory signal, generate an inhibitory signal configured to suppress generation of another excitatory signal, and thereby enable the object detection;
wherein:
the sensory input comprises a plurality of spikes associated with a first sensory modality and a second sensory modality;
the at least one excitatory signal comprising one or more pulses generated based on a portion of the sensory input comprising first representation of the object based on the first sensory modality;
the another excitatory signal comprising another one or more pulses configured to be generated based on another portion of the sensory input comprising second representation of the object based on the second sensory modality;
and
the first representation of the object being characterized by a parameter having a value that is different from a value of the parameter associated with the sensory input of the first sensory modality in an area proximate to the object.

4 more elements

A method of detecting one or more salient features within an image set with a spiking neuron network, the method comprising:

providing a first stimulus comprising a first spectral parameter of a first image of the image set to a first portion of the network;
providing a second stimulus comprising a second spectral parameter of a second image of the image set to a second portion of the network;
based at least in part on the provision of the first stimulus, causing generation of a plurality of pulses by the first portion of the network, the plurality of pulses encoding the first spectral parameter into a pulse latency;
generating an inhibition signal based at least in part on two or more pulses of the plurality of pulses, the two or more pulses being proximate one another within a time interval;
and
based at least in part on the inhibition signal, suppressing responses to the second stimulus by at least one neuron of the second portion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Temporal winner takes all spiking neuron network sensory processing apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Temporal winner takes all spiking neuron network sensory processing apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20