The computational infrastructure of analogic CNN computing. I. The CNN-UM chip prototyping system

Abstract

A new computational paradigm is emerging for spatio-temporal problems: analogic cellular neural/nonlinear network (CNN) array-computing. It has all the software and hardware ingredients of the stored programmable computer (highlevel language, compiler, operating system, assembly and machine code, analogic central processing unit (CPU), analog and digital memory, peripherals, etc.). The elementary instructions and programming techniques, however, are drastically different from any other computers. These elementary instructions represent complex spatio-temporal nonlinear dynamic phenomena, including all the standard and exotic properties of simple image processing operators, as well as waves, patterns, and evolving systems. Meanwhile, a computational infrastructure has also emerged interfacing this revolutionary computing technology to digital systems as well as enabling the development of high-level software. The main goal was to provide easy-to-use tools and hardware interfacing elements and putting most of the sophistication in the chips and chip sets.