Nonlinear associative memories using linear arrays of associative memory cells, and methods of operating same
First Claim
1. An associative memory comprising:
- a plurality of associative memory cells, a respective cell including a sensor input, a prior association representation, a next association representation and an associative output, the plurality of cells being serially connected to form a linear array, such that the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the sensor inputs;
a respective cell also including processing logic therein;
that is responsive to the sensor input of the respective cell being active to send a measure of the next association representation to an adjacent proximal cell and/or to send a measure of the prior association representation to an adjacent distal cell; and
that is further responsive to the sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the next association representation from an adjacent distal cell, to accumulate an associative count in the associative output and/or that is responsive to the sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the prior association representation from an adjacent proximal cell, to accumulate an associative count in the associative output,wherein the affinities of associations among the sensor inputs are determined by repeatedly swapping inputs, prior association representations and next association representations in the series based upon affinities of associations in the proximal and distal directions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Associative memories include associative memory cells. A respective cell includes a sensor input, a prior association representation, a next association representation and an associative output. The cells are serially interconnected to form a linear array, such that the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the series of sensor inputs. A respective cell also includes processing logic. The processing logic is responsive to the associated sensor input being active, to send a measure of the next association representation to an adjacent proximal cell and/or to send a measure of prior association representation to an adjacent distal cell. The processing logic may be further responsive to the associated sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the next association representation from an adjacent distal cell, to accumulate an associative count in the associative output.
25 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An associative memory comprising:
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a plurality of associative memory cells, a respective cell including a sensor input, a prior association representation, a next association representation and an associative output, the plurality of cells being serially connected to form a linear array, such that the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the sensor inputs; a respective cell also including processing logic therein; that is responsive to the sensor input of the respective cell being active to send a measure of the next association representation to an adjacent proximal cell and/or to send a measure of the prior association representation to an adjacent distal cell; and that is further responsive to the sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the next association representation from an adjacent distal cell, to accumulate an associative count in the associative output and/or that is responsive to the sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the prior association representation from an adjacent proximal cell, to accumulate an associative count in the associative output, wherein the affinities of associations among the sensor inputs are determined by repeatedly swapping inputs, prior association representations and next association representations in the series based upon affinities of associations in the proximal and distal directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method of determining associations using an associative memory that comprises a plurality of associative memory cells that are serially connected in a sequence from distal to proximal cells to form a linear array, the method comprising:
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loading into a respective memory cell a prior association representation and a next association representation for a respective sensor input of the memory cell, wherein the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the sensor inputs; activating selected sensor inputs to determine associations therebetween; responsive to the sensor input being active, sending a measure of the next association representation to an adjacent proximal cell and/or sending a measure of the prior association representation to an adjacent distal cell; responsive to the sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the next association representation from an adjacent distal cell, accumulating an associative count and/or responsive to the sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the prior association representation from an adjacent proximal cell, accumulating an associative count; and repeatedly swapping inputs, prior association representations and next association representations in the series based upon affinities of associations in the proximal and distal directions to determine the affinities of associations among the sensor inputs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An associative memory comprising:
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a plurality of associative memory cells, a respective cell including a sensor input, a prior association representation, a next association representation and an associative output, the plurality of cells being serially connected to form a linear array, such that the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the sensor inputs, wherein the affinities of associations among the sensor inputs are determined by repeatedly swapping inputs, prior association representations and next association representations in the series based upon affinities of associations in the proximal and distal directions. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of determining associations using an associative memory that comprises a plurality of associative memory cells that are serially connected in a sequence from distal to proximal memory cells to form a linear array of a series of memory cells, the method comprising:
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loading into a respective memory cell a prior association representation and a next association representation for a respective sensor input of the memory cell wherein the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the sensor inputs; activating selected sensor inputs to determine associations therebetween; and repeatedly swapping inputs, prior association representations and next association representations in the series of memory cells based upon affinities of associations in the proximal and distal directions to determine the affinities of associations among ones of the sensor inputs. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification