IP Library Granted Patent US 11,967,951
Granted Patent B2
US 11,967,951 · App. 17/171,824 · Granted Apr 23, 2024

Analog computer architecture for fast function optimization

Inventors: Ion Matei (Sunnyvale, CA); Aleksandar Feldman (Santa Cruz, CA); Johan de Kleer (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
H03K19/17748G06G7/122G06G7/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,967,951
App. No.
17/171,824
Granted
Apr 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An analog circuit for solving optimization algorithms comprises three voltage controlled current sources and three capacitors, operatively coupled in parallel to the three voltage controlled current sources, respectively. The circuit further comprises a first inductor, operatively coupled in series between a first pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources and a second pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources. The circuit further comprises a second inductor, operatively coupled in series between the second pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources and a third pair of the capacitors and the voltage controller current sources.

Claims (28)

1. An analog circuit for solving optimization algorithms, the analog circuit comprising:

a plurality of voltage controlled current sources;

a plurality of capacitors, wherein each of the plurality of capacitors is coupled in parallel with at least one voltage controlled current source of the plurality of voltage controlled current sources;

a first inductor, operatively coupled between a first pair of the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of voltage controlled current sources and a second pair of the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of voltage controlled current sources; and

a second inductor, operatively coupled between the second pair of the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of voltage controlled current sources and a third pair of the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of voltage controlled current sources, wherein the analog circuit is part of a model-predictive control scheme.

2. The analog circuit of claim 1 , wherein the analog circuit is to solve the optimization algorithms in less than 500 milliseconds.

3. The analog circuit of claim 2 , wherein the analog circuit is to solve the optimization algorithms in less than 500 nanoseconds.

4. The analog circuit of claim 1 , wherein the analog circuit is to solve distributed optimization algorithms.

5. The analog circuit of claim 1 , wherein the analog circuit is to solve the optimization algorithms with multi-variable cost functions.

6. The analog circuit of claim 5 , wherein the multi-variable cost functions are non-convex.

7. The analog circuit of claim 1 , wherein the analog circuit is implemented by a field programmable analog array (FPAA).

8. The analog circuit of claim 7 , wherein the FPAA is configured digitally.

9. A field programmable analog array (FPAA) for solving optimization algorithms, configured to comprise:

a plurality of voltage controlled current sources;

a plurality of capacitors, each capacitor operatively coupled in parallel to one of the plurality of voltage controlled current sources, respectively, to form a plurality of voltage controlled current source and capacitor pairs; and

a plurality of energy-storage components, each energy-storage component of the plurality of energy-storage components operatively coupled between the plurality of voltage controller current source and capacitor pairs, wherein the FPAA is part of a model-predictive control scheme.

10. The FPAA of claim 9 , wherein the FPAA is configured digitally.

11. The FPAA of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of energy-storage components is a plurality of inductors.

12. The FPAA of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of energy-storage components is a plurality of operational amplifiers.

13. The FPAA of claim 9 , wherein the FPAA is to solve the optimization algorithms in less than 500 milliseconds.

14. The FPAA of claim 13 , wherein the FPAA is to solve the optimization algorithms in less than 500 nanoseconds.

15. The FPAA of claim 9 , wherein the FPAA is to solve the distributed optimization algorithms.

16. The FPAA of claim 9 , wherein the FPAA is to solve the optimization algorithms with multi-variable cost functions.

17. The FPAA of claim 16 , wherein the FPAA is to increase a probability of solving for a local minimum when the multi-variable cost functions are non-convex.

18. A method comprising:

receiving an optimization problem to be solved; and

generating, by a processing device, a digital program for a field programmable analog array (FPAA), wherein an output of the digital program is to configure the FPAA to execute the optimization problem in an analog manner as part of a model-predictive control scheme.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein to configure the FPAA to execute the optimization problem the output of the digital program is to configure a plurality of switches of the FPAA.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073562/0677 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF US PATENTS 9356603, 10026651, 10626048 AND INCLUSION OF US PATENT 7167871 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 064038 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064161/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064038/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2021
From: MATEI, ION; FELDMAN, ALEKSANDAR; DE KLEER, JOHAN
To: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 055749/0151 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16206206 · Nov 30, 2018
Related Publication 20210184680A1 · Jun 17, 2021