Recent Progress in Transistor‐Based Optoelectronic Synapses: From Neuromorphic Computing to Artificial Sensory System

Sung Woon Cho, Sung Min Kwon, Yong‐Hoon Kim, Sung Kyu Park

Advanced Intelligent Systems · 2021 · 198 citations · 76 references

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TL;DR

Neuromorphic electronics, especially optoelectronic synapses that use light to emulate synaptic plasticity, promise high‑density, low‑power, low‑crosstalk artificial intelligence systems. The paper reviews recent progress in transistor‑based optoelectronic synapses, covering device architecture, neuromorphic mechanisms, manufacturing methods, and applications in AI computing and visual perception, and outlines future challenges. The review examines transistor‑based optoelectronic synapse architectures, their neuromorphic operational mechanisms, manufacturing techniques, and applications in AI computing and visual perception.

Abstract

Neuromorphic electronics draw attention as innovative approaches that facilitate hardware implementation of next‐generation artificial intelligent system including neuromorphic in‐memory computing, artificial sensory perception, and humanoid robotics. Among the various neuromorphic devices, optoelectronic synapses are promising neuromorphic devices that use optical means to mimic synaptic plasticity and related functions. Compared with classical neuromorphic chip based on electronic synapses using electrical means, photonic neuromorphic chip using light as input spike signal can be attractive alternative approach for next‐generation artificial intelligent system capable of high density, low power consumption, and low crosstalk. Thus, various optoelectronic synaptic electronics have been developed to overcome the drawback of conventional artificial intelligent system based on electrical synapses. Herein, the recent progresses in transistor‐based optoelectronic synapses for artificial intelligent system and review their device architecture, neuromorphic operational mechanisms, manufacturing methodologies, and advanced applications for artificial intelligent computing and visual perception systems are focused. Finally, the future challenges and research direction in the optoelectronic synaptic research are discussed.

References

76