Bioprocessing element and neural network processor with bioprocessing element

1 . A bioprocessing device performing an operation based on cultured biological neurons, the device comprising:

an electrode layer comprising electrodes configured to be connected to the biological neurons;

circuit layers, stacked with the electrode layer, comprising stacked circuits for the biological neurons, wherein, for each of the circuit layers, circuit blocks of different groups comprised in the circuit layer are configured to perform different predetermined functions and signals of circuit blocks of a same group comprised in the circuit layer performing a same predetermined function are grouped and transmitted to circuit blocks of a same group comprised in another one of the circuit layers configured to perform the same predetermined function; and

inter-layer connectors configured to connect the electrode layer and the circuit layers.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein an area of each of the circuit layers is smaller than or equal to an area of the electrode layer.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein an area of the electrode layer is determined based on either one or both of a thickness of the inter-layer connectors and a number of the inter-layer connectors.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein any one or any combination of any two or more of a number of the electrodes, a number of the circuit layers, a circuit configuration of each of the circuit layers, and a method of connection between the circuit layers is determined based on an application field of the device.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a disposition spacing between the electrodes is determined based on a size of the biological neurons.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the inter-layer connectors comprise either one or both of:

through silicon vias (TSVs) penetrating the electrode layer and the circuit layers; and

micro bumps connecting the electrode layer and the circuit layers.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

signals of the circuit blocks performing the same function among the circuit blocks comprised in the corresponding circuit layer are grouped into one group and transmitted.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein each of the circuit blocks comprises a circuit configured to perform a predetermined function.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the circuit blocks performing the same function among the circuit blocks are contiguously disposed to each other.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

signals of at least a portion of the circuit blocks comprised in a corresponding circuit layer are grouped through circuits connected to the inter-layer connectors.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

one or more of the circuit blocks receives a signal from one or more of the electrodes.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

signals of at least a portion of the circuit blocks comprised in a corresponding circuit layer are grouped by any one or any combination of any two or more of a time division multiplexing method, a frequency division multiplexing method, and a code division multiplexing method.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the circuit layers comprise circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

in response to functionally contiguous circuit blocks among the circuit blocks being dispersed to different circuit layers, the dispersed circuit blocks are interconnected by the inter-layer connectors.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to perform either one or both of stimulating the biological neurons and analyzing a neural signal of the biological neurons.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a bioprocessing element.

16 . A neural network processor comprising a plurality of the bioprocessing device of claim 1 , wherein the bioprocessing devices are connected in parallel.

17 . A neural network processor comprising:

a plurality of bioprocessing devices performing an operation based on cultured biological neurons,

wherein the bioprocessing devices are connected in parallel, and

wherein each of the bioprocessing elements comprises:

an electrode layer comprising electrodes configured to be connected to the biological neurons;

circuit layers, stacked with the electrode layer, comprising stacked circuits for the biological neurons, wherein, for each of the circuit layers, circuit blocks of different groups comprised in the circuit layer are configured to perform different predetermined functions and signals of circuit blocks of a same group comprised in the circuit layer performing a same predetermined function are grouped and transmitted to circuit blocks of a same group comprised in another one of the circuit layers configured to perform the same predetermined function; and

inter-layer connectors configured to connect the electrode layer and the circuit layers.

18 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein a disposition spacing between the bioprocessing devices is determined based on an electrode density of the electrodes.

19 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

signals of the circuit blocks performing the same function among the circuit blocks comprised in a corresponding circuit layer are grouped into one group and transmitted.

20 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

signals of at least a portion of the circuit blocks comprised in a corresponding circuit layer are grouped through circuits connected to the inter-layer connectors.

21 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

one or more of the circuit blocks is configured to receive a signal from one or more of the electrodes.

22 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein each of the circuit layers comprises circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

signals of at least a portion of the circuit blocks comprised in a corresponding circuit layer are grouped by any one or any combination of any two or more of a time division multiplexing method, a frequency division multiplexing method, and a code division multiplexing method.

23 . The processor of claim 17 , wherein the circuit layers comprise circuit blocks configured to perform a predetermined function, and

in response to functionally contiguous circuit blocks among the circuit blocks being dispersed to different circuit layers, the dispersed circuit blocks are interconnected by the inter-layer connectors.

24 . A bioprocessing device performing an operation based on cultured biological neurons, the device comprising:

an electrode layer comprising electrodes configured to be connected to the biological neurons;

a circuit layer stacked with the electrode layer and comprising groups of adjacent circuit blocks, wherein, for each of the groups, the circuit blocks of the group are configured to perform a same operation that is different than an operation performed by circuit blocks of another one of the groups and signals of the circuit blocks of the group are grouped and transmitted to circuit blocks of another group of another circuit layer configured to perform the same operation; and

inter-layer connectors configured to connect the electrode layer and the circuit layer.

25 . The device of claim 24 , wherein

circuit blocks of a first group of the groups are configured to perform a first operation, and

circuit blocks of a second group of the groups are configured to perform a second operation.

26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the first operation and the second operation correspond to different operations among measuring a neural signal of the biological neurons, processing the neural signal of the biological neurons, and providing a stimulus signal to the biological neurons.