In-cell differential read-out circuitry for reading signed weight values in resistive processing unit architecture

• US 10,340,002 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2018
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Seyoung, Lee, Hyung-Min, Gokmen, Tayfun, Han, Shu-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarabian, Amir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Radke, Jay W.
• Application Number:
  US15/941,558
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/065 Analogue means
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/084 Backpropagation, e.g. using gradient descent
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0038 Power supply circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/004 Reading or sensing circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0042 Read using differential sensing, e.g. bit line [BL] and bit line bar [BLB]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0045 Read using current through the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0054 Read is performed on a reference element, e.g. cell, and the reference sensed value is used to compare the sensed value of the selected cell
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/77 Array wherein the memory element being directly connected to the bit lines and word lines without any access device being used

Abstract

A resistive processing unit (RPU) device includes a weight storage device to store a weight voltage which corresponds to a weight value of the RPU device, and a read transistor having a gate connected to the weight storage device, and first and second source/drain terminals connected to first and second control ports, respectively. A current source connected to the second source/drain terminal generates a fixed reference current. The read transistor generates a weight current in response to the weight voltage. A read current output from the second control port represents a signed weight value of the RPU device. A magnitude of the read current is equal to a difference between the weight current and the fixed reference current. The sign of the read current is positive when the weight current is greater than the fixed reference current, and negative when the weight current is less than the fixed reference current.

Claims

1. A resistive processing unit (RPU) device, comprising:

a weight storage device configured to store a weight voltage which corresponds to a weight value of the RPU device;

a read transistor comprising a gate terminal, a first source/drain terminal, and a second source/drain terminal, wherein the gate terminal is connected to the weight storage device, wherein the first source/drain terminal is connected to a first control port of the RPU device, and wherein the second source/drain terminal is connected to a second control port of the RPU device; and

a current source connected to the second source/drain terminal of the read transistor, wherein the current source is configured to generate a fixed reference current;

wherein the read transistor is configured to generate a weight current in response to the weight voltage applied to the gate terminal of the read transistor;

wherein the RPU device is configured to output a read current from the second control port, wherein the read current comprises a magnitude and sign which represents a signed weight value of the RPU device;

wherein the magnitude of the read current is equal to a difference between the weight current generated by the read transistor and the fixed reference current of the current source;

wherein the sign of the read current is deemed positive when the weight current is greater than the fixed reference current; and

wherein the sign of the read current is deemed negative when the weight current is less than the fixed reference current.

2. The RPU device of claim 1, wherein the sign of the read current is deemed zero when the weight current is equal to the fixed reference current.

3. The RPU device of claim 1, wherein the read transistor comprises an NMOS device and wherein the current source is connected to a source terminal of the read transistor, wherein the current source serves as a current sink to sink the fixed reference current from the source terminal of the read transistor.

4. The RPU device of claim 1, wherein the weight storage device comprises a capacitor.

5. The RPU device of claim 4, further comprising control circuity to update a weight voltage stored in the capacitor.

6. An RPU crossbar array system comprising the RPU device of claim 1.

7. A resistive processing unit (RPU) device, comprising:

a weight storage device configured to store a weight voltage which corresponds to a weight value of the RPU device;

a current integration circuit;

a first read transistor comprising a gate terminal, a first source/drain terminal, and a second source/drain terminal, wherein the gate terminal of the first read transistor is connected to the weight storage device, wherein the first source/drain terminal of the first read transistor is connected to a first control port of the RPU device, and wherein the second source/drain terminal of the first read transistor is connected to the current integration circuit; and

a second read transistor comprising a gate terminal, a first source/drain terminal, and a second source/drain terminal, wherein the gate terminal of the second read transistor is connected to the weight storage device, wherein the first source/drain terminal of the second read transistor is connected to a second control port of the RPU device, and wherein the second source/drain terminal of the second read transistor is connected to the current integration circuit;

wherein the first and second read transistors are configured to generate first and second weight currents, respectively, in response to the weight voltage applied to the gate terminals of the first and second read transistors, wherein the first and second weight currents are complementary currents;

wherein the current integration circuit is configured to generate a read current, which is output from a third port of the RPU device, wherein the read current comprises a magnitude and sign which represents a signed weight value of the RPU device;

wherein the magnitude of the read current is equal to a difference between the first weight current generated by the first read transistor and the second weight current generated by the second read transistor;

wherein the sign of the read current is deemed positive when the first weight current is greater than the second weight current; and

wherein the sign of the read current is deemed negative when the first weight current is less than the second weight current.

8. The RPU device of claim 7, wherein the sign of the read current is deemed zero when the first and second weight currents are equal.

9. The RPU device of claim 7, wherein the first read transistor comprises an NMOS device and wherein the second read transistor comprises a PMOS device, wherein the gate terminals of the first and second read transistors are commonly connected.

10. The RPU device of claim 7, wherein the current integration circuit comprises a current mirror circuit.

11. The RPU device of claim 10, wherein the current mirror circuit comprises:

a reference input node connected to the second source/drain terminal of the second read transistor; and

an output node commonly connected to the second source/drain terminal of the first read transistor and the third port of the RPU device;

wherein the current mirror circuit is configured to mirror the second weight current, which is output from the second source/drain terminal of the second read transistor, and sink the mirrored second weight current into the output node of the current mirror circuit such that the read current is generated as a difference between the first weight current and the mirrored second weight current.

12. The RPU device of claim 7, wherein the weight storage device comprises a capacitor.

13. The RPU device of claim 12, further comprising control circuity to update a weight voltage stored in the capacitor.

14. An RPU crossbar array system comprising the RPU device of claim 7.

15. A resistive processing unit (RPU) device, comprising:

a current mirror circuit comprising a reference input node and an output node;

a variable resistor device having a resistance value which corresponds to a weight value of the RPU device, wherein the variable resistor device is connected between a first port and a second port of the RPU device, and connected to the output node of the current mirror circuit; and

a fixed resistor device having a fixed resistance value, wherein the fixed resistor device is connected between the first port of the RPU device and the reference input node of the current mirror circuit;

wherein the variable resistor device is configured to generate a first current in response to a control voltage applied to the first port of the RPU device;

wherein the fixed resistor device is configured to generate a second current in response to the control voltage applied to the first port of the RPU device;

wherein the current mirror circuit is configured to mirror the second current, and sink the mirrored second current into the output node of the current mirror circuit and cause a read current to be generated and output from the second port of the RPU device, wherein the read current comprises a magnitude and sign which represents a signed weight value of the RPU device;

wherein the magnitude of the read current is equal to a difference between the first current the second mirrored current;

wherein the sign of the read current is deemed positive when the first current is greater than the second mirrored current; and

wherein the sign of the read current is deemed negative when the first current is less than the second mirrored current.

16. The RPU device of claim 15, further comprising voltage equalization circuitry to maintain equal voltage levels at the reference input node and the output node of the current mirror circuit.

17. The RPU device of claim 16, wherein the voltage equalization circuitry comprises:

a PMOS transistor serially connected between the fixed resistor device and the reference input node of the current mirror circuit; and

an operational amplifier having an output connected to a gate terminal of the PMOS transistor, an inverting input connected to a node between the fixed resistor device and a source/drain terminal of the PMOS device, and a non-inverting input connected to a output node of the current mirror circuit.

18. The RPU device of claim 17, wherein the operational amplifier comprises:

a differential input stage;

a current mirror which provides load for the differential input stage; and

a constant current biasing transistor to bias the differential input stage of the operational amplifier.

19. The RPU device of claim 15, further comprising control circuity to adjust a resistance value of the variable resistor device to update a weight value of the RPU device.

20. An RPU crossbar array system comprising the RPU device of claim 15.