Variable scaling for computing elements
Various systems, methods, and computing units are provided for variable scaling of computing elements. In one representative embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a plurality of computing resource levels; and providing one of the plurality of computing resource levels to each of a plurality of computing elements, each computing element having an associated output, the provided voltage level based upon associated output significance.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a plurality of computing resource levels, each computing resource level sufficient to enable operation of a computing element;
providing one of the plurality of computing resource levels to each of a plurality of computing elements, each computing element having an associated output, the provided computing resource level based upon associated output significance; and
outputting the output by each of the computing elements with a probability of correctness based upon the provided computing resource levels.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing resource levels are clock rates.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated outputs are ordered from least significant (LS) to most significant (MS).
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the provided computing resource level is based upon a function of associated output significance.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the provided computing resource level is based upon a geometric scaling function of associated output significance.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the same computing resource level is provided to each computing element associated with a group of outputs.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each computing resource level is received from a separate source.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the computing resource level of at least one separate source is adjustable.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a plurality of computing resource levels comprises:
receiving a computing resource from a source; and
dividing the received computing resource into the plurality of computing resource levels.
10. A computational system, comprising a computing unit configured to:
receive a plurality of computing resource levels, each computing resource level sufficient to enable operation of a computing element;
provide one of the plurality of computing resource levels to each of a plurality of computing elements, each computing element having an associated output bit, the provided computing resource level based upon associated output bit significance; and
outputting the output bit by each of the computing elements with a probability of correctness based upon the provided computing resource levels.
11. The computing unit of claim 10 , wherein the computing resource levels are clock rates.
12. The computational system of claim 10 , wherein the associated output bits are ordered from least significant (LS) to most significant (MS).
13. The computational system of claim 10 , wherein the provided computing resource level is based upon a function of associated output bit significance.
14. The computational system of claim 10 , wherein the same computing resource level is provided to each computing element associated with a group of output bits.
15. The computational system of claim 10 , further comprising a supply configured to provide at least one of the plurality of computing resource levels.
16. A computing unit, comprising:
a plurality of unit outputs, each unit output having a corresponding significance; and
a plurality of computing elements, each computing element associated with one of the plurality of unit outputs, each computing element configured to receive a computing resource level based upon the significance of the associated unit output and to provide an element output with a probability of correctness based upon the received computing resource level.
17. The computing unit of claim 16 , wherein the unit outputs are ordered from least significant (LS) to most significant (MS).
18. The computing unit of claim 16 , wherein the probability of correctness is based upon a function of associated output significance.
19. The computing unit of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the computing elements is configured with a threshold voltage such that the element output is provided with a probability of correctness based upon the significance of the associated unit output.
20. The computing unit of claim 19 , wherein each computing element associated with the unit output is configured with the threshold voltage.