Processor comprising three-dimensional memory (3D-M) array
View Patent ↗The present invention discloses a processor comprising three-dimensional memory (3D-M) array (3D-processor). Instead of logic-based computation (LBC), the 3D-processor uses memory-based computation (MBC). It comprises an array of computing elements, with each computing element comprising an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) and a 3D-M-based look-up table (3DM-LUT). The ALC performs arithmetic operations on the LUT data, while the 3DM-LUT is stored in at least one 3D-M array.
1. A three-dimensional processor, comprising a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of computing elements disposed thereon, each of said computing elements comprising:
at least a three-dimensional memory (3D-M) array and peripheral circuits thereof, wherein said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells for storing at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) for a mathematical function, said memory cells being neither in contact with nor interposed by any semiconductor substrate including said semiconductor substrate; and, at least a portion of said peripheral circuits is disposed on said semiconductor substrate;
a plurality of 3D-interconnects entirely disposed between said 3D-M array and said portion of said peripheral circuits, with one ends in contact with said 3D-M array and the other ends in contact with said portion of said peripheral circuits, wherein said 3D-interconnects do not penetrate through any semiconductor substrate including said semiconductor substrate;
an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) disposed on said semiconductor substrate and adjacent to said portion of said peripheral circuits, wherein said ALC performs at least an arithmetic operation on selected data from said LUT; and, said ALC and said 3D-M array at least partially overlap.
2. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein said LUT includes functional values or derivative values of said mathematical function.
3. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein said mathematical function includes more operations than arithmetic operations performable by said ALC.
4. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein said mathematical function represents a mathematical model.
5. The processor according to claim 4 , wherein said LUT includes raw measurement data or smoothed measurement data.
6. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein said ALC comprises at least an adder, a multiplier, a multiply-accumulator (MAC), a pre-processing circuit, or a post-processing circuit.
7. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein said 3D-interconnects comprise a plurality of contact vias.
8. A three-dimensional processor, comprising a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of computing elements disposed thereon, each of said computing elements comprising:
at least a three-dimensional memory (3D-M) array and peripheral circuits thereof, wherein said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells for storing at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) for a mathematical function, said memory cells being neither in contact with nor interposed by any semiconductor substrate including said semiconductor substrate; and, at least a portion of said peripheral circuits is disposed on said semiconductor substrate;
a plurality of 3D-interconnects entirely disposed between said 3D-M array and said portion of said peripheral circuits, with one ends in contact with said 3D-M array and the other ends in contact with said portion of said peripheral circuits, wherein said 3D-interconnects do not penetrate through any semiconductor substrate including said semiconductor substrate;
an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) disposed on said semiconductor substrate, wherein said ALC performs at least an arithmetic operation on selected data from said LUT; and, said ALC is surrounded by said portion of said peripheral circuits, said portion of said peripheral circuits is disposed outside said ALC.
9. The processor according to claim 8 , wherein said LUT includes functional values or derivative values of said mathematical function.
10. The processor according to claim 8 , wherein said mathematical function includes more operations than arithmetic operations performable by said ALC.
11. The processor according to claim 8 , wherein said mathematical function represents a mathematical model.
12. The processor according to claim 11 , wherein said LUT includes raw measurement data or smoothed measurement data.
13. The processor according to claim 8 , wherein said ALC comprises at least an adder, a multiplier, a multiply-accumulator (MAC), a pre-processing circuit, or a post-processing circuit.
14. The processor according to claim 8 , wherein said 3D-interconnects comprise a plurality of contact vias.
15. A three-dimensional processor, comprising a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of computing elements disposed thereon, each of said computing elements comprising:
at least a three-dimensional memory (3D-M) array and peripheral circuits thereof, wherein said 3D-M array comprises a plurality of vertically stacked memory cells for storing at least a portion of a look-up table (LUT) for a mathematical function, said memory cells being neither in contact with nor interposed by any semiconductor substrate including said semiconductor substrate; and, at least a portion of said peripheral circuits is disposed on said semiconductor substrate;
a plurality of 3D-interconnects entirely disposed between said 3D-M array and said portion of said peripheral circuits, with one ends in contact with said 3D-M array and the other ends in contact with said portion of said peripheral circuits, wherein said 3D-interconnects do not penetrate through any semiconductor substrate including said semiconductor substrate;
an arithmetic logic circuit (ALC) comprising a plurality of components disposed on said semiconductor substrate, wherein said ALC performs at least an arithmetic operation on selected data from said LUT; and, each of said components is surrounded by selected ones of said peripheral circuits, each of said peripheral circuits is disposed outside said components.
16. The processor according to claim 15 , wherein said LUT includes functional values or derivative values of said mathematical function.
17. The processor according to claim 15 , wherein said mathematical function includes more operations than arithmetic operations performable by said ALC.
18. The processor according to claim 15 , wherein said mathematical function represents a mathematical model.
19. The processor according to claim 18 , wherein said LUT includes raw measurement data or smoothed measurement data.
20. The processor according to claim 15 , wherein said ALC comprises at least an adder, a multiplier, a multiply-accumulator (MAC), a pre-processing circuit, or a post-processing circuit.