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Industrial Research And Consultancy Centre
Patent
Flash Memory for Low Energy Synapse
Problem Statement

The key issue addressed is the need for an efficient and reliable synaptic device that can mimic biological synapses for neuromorphic computing, with low energy consumption, CMOS compatibility, and technological maturity.

Abstract

The proposed technology involves a synapse based on highly manufacturable Charge Trap Flash (CTF) Memory on Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technology. It demonstrates gradual symmetric Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long-Term Depression (LTD) with arbitrarily tunable states, making it suitable for neuromorphic computing applications.

Uniqueness of the Solution
  • Gradual symmetric LTP and LTD demonstrated. 
  • Tunable number of states (101 to 104) by pulse characteristics. 
  • Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP) demonstrated by FN tunneling. 
  • Synaptic unit cell size of 30F². 
  • Endurance of more than 109 LTP/LTD cycles. 
  • Energy-efficient with <660 aJ per essential energy spike
Prototype Details

The synaptic device is implemented on an SOI substrate with a 1F2D configuration. The prototype includes back-to-back Zener and standard pn diodes to block undesirable current during operation, ensuring efficient performance in a cross-bar array network​​.

Current Status of Technology

The technology is implemented with a single cell Charge Trap Flash (CTF) memory for ultra-low energy synapses (<2fJ). These synaptic cells effectively represent tunable and symmetric learning capabilities, demonstrating their utility in Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) and Deep Neural Networks (DNN) algorithms for neuromorphic computing.

Technology readiness level

3

Societal Impact

The technology enables the development of efficient and scalable neuromorphic systems, contributing to advancements in AI and machine learning. This can lead to more energy-efficient computing systems and potentially transform various sectors by providing more intelligent and adaptive technologies.

Relevant Industries, Domains and Applications

The technology is highly manufacturable and compatible with the CMOS silicon industry, making it suitable for applications in neuromorphic computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced computing systems that require low-energy, high-reliability synaptic devices.

Applications or Domain

The primary application of this technology is in neuromorphic computing systems, where it can be used to build large-scale neural networks that mimic the human brain's learning and energy efficiency. It is particularly suited for real-time learning applications and advanced AI system.

Geography of IP

Type of IP

Application Number

201921006118

Filing Date
Grant Number

531548

Grant Date
Assignee(s)
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
**This IP is owned by IIT Bombay**