Neural data-processing net with electrochromic material regions

• US 5,204,937 A
• Filed: 11/09/1990
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eniricerche S.P.A. (Eni Petroleum Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Eniricerche S.P.A. (Eni Petroleum Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Minnaja, Nicola
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US07/612,233
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 364/513, 364/807, 364/822, 346/160, 338/308, 357/2, 350/357, 395/25, 365/107, 365/215
• US Class Current: 706/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/063 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/047 using electro-optical elements G11C13/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/005 with combined beam-and individual cell access

Abstract

The neural net includes a plurality of synaptic circuits associated with a matrix including:

a plurality of line electrodes (R_i),

a plurality of column electrodes (C_j), and

a plurality of ordered regions (A_ij) in which line electrodes (R_i) and column electrodes (C_j) are interconnected.

At least some of the connecting regions (A_ij) include electrochromic material (ECM).

Claims

1. A neural net for data processing capable of being adapted while on-line, said neural net comprising:

a support substrate which is translucent;

a plurality of pairs of column electrodes positioned on a first face of said support substrate and arranged substantially perpendicular to a first axis of said support substrate, each of said pairs of column electrodes comprising a first column electrode and a second column electrode; and

a plurality of row electrodes positioned on the first face of said support substrate and arranged substantially perpendicular to a second axis of said support substrate;

wherein each of said row electrodes intersects at least one of said pairs of column electrodes, thereby forming a matrix element associated therewith; and

wherein each of said matrix elements comprises;

a phototransistor positioned on a second face of said support substrate;

an element of electrochromic material comprising light transfer characteristics which change in response to an electrical impulse, said element of electrochromic material positioned on the first face of said support substrate and overlapping said phototransistor, a first contact of said electrochromic material connected to its associated row electrode;

a first diode coupling a second contact of said electrochromic material to its associated first column electrode; and

a second diode coupling the second contact of said electrochromic material to its associated second column electrode, the polarity of said second diode being opposite to that of said first diode in relation to said electrochromic material;

whereby, by supplying a current from a particular row electrode to a particular pair of column electrodes or from a particular pair of column electrodes to a particular row electrode, the matrix element associated with the intersection of the particular row electrode and the particular pair of column electrodes supplied with current is uniquely addressed and the light transfer characteristics of the electrochromic material thereof is electronically altered in one direction or in the opposite direction, respectively, and the resulting amount of incident light transferred by said electrochromic material to the phototransistor of the matrix element uniquely addressed is increased or decreased accordingly, thereby modifying impedance characteristics of the phototransistor in the desired fashion.