IP Library Granted Patent US 12,602,575
Granted Patent B2
US 12,602,575 · App. 18/642,669 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Performing processing-in-memory operations related to pre-synaptic spike signals, and related methods and systems

Inventors: Dmitri Yudanov (Cordova, CA); Sean S. Eilert (Penryn, CA); Hernan A. Castro (Shingle Springs, CA); Ameen D. Akel (Rancho Cordova, CA)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G06N3/063G06N3/049G11C11/4063G11C11/54G06N3/084G06N5/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,602,575
App. No.
18/642,669
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Spiking events in a spiking neural network may be processed via a memory system. A memory system may store data corresponding to a group of destination neurons. The memory system may, at each time interval of a SNN, pass through data corresponding to a group of pre-synaptic spike events from respective source neurons. The data corresponding to the group of pre-synaptic spike events may be subsequently stored in the memory system.

Claims (38)

1 . A system, comprising:

a memory array comprising a number of memory cells at intersections of a number of word lines and a number of bit lines; and

circuitry coupled to the memory array and configured to:

generate, in response to a first signal driven on a word line of the number of word lines, a second signal with a voltage, current, or timing characteristic, or combination thereof that either increases or decreases a conductance of a memory cell of the number of memory cells on a bit line of the number of bit lines; and

integrate current on the bit line intersecting the word line.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit a feedback signal to the bit line, wherein the feedback signal is a decaying bias.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second signal is applied to each memory cell on the bit line.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to generate a spike signal in response to a threshold potential value of a neuron driven on the bit line being met.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the conductance of the memory cell increases in response to the second signal if the first signal is driven on the word line before the spike signal is generated.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the conductance of the memory cell decreases in response to the second signal if the first signal is driven on the word line after the spike signal of is generated.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in response to the first signal driven on the word line after generation of the spike signal, apply an individual decaying bias to each memory cell of the number of memory cells on the bit line.

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in response to the first signal driven on the word line before generation of the spike signal, apply another signal to one or more memory cells of the number of memory cells on the word line, wherein a conductance of the one or more memory cells returns to an original conductance state after a predetermined time duration.

9 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in response to the generation of the spike signal, apply a threshold modulating bias to another bit line of the number of bit lines intersecting the word line.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold modulating bias is applied immediately after the generation of the spike signal.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a memory controller configured to copy conductance on a second memory cell of the number of memory cells on a second bit line of the number of bit lines intersecting the word line to the memory cell.

12 . A method, comprising:

generating a first signal with a voltage, current, or timing characteristic, or combination thereof that modifies a conductance of a memory cell in a long-term potentiation (LTP) window of a spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) characteristic;

transmitting the first signal to a bit line coupled to the memory cell; and

in response to generation of a spike signal of a neuron driven on the bit line, transmitting a feedback signal to each memory cell on the bit line, wherein the feedback signal is a decaying bias.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising driving a second signal on a word line coupled to the memory cell, wherein the first signal is generated responsive to the second signal.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating the spike signal of the neuron in response to a membrane potential of the neuron meeting a predetermined threshold.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating a decaying signal to change conductivity of the memory cell in a decaying manner.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting a conductance value of the memory cell according to the decaying bias, the conductance of the memory cell, or both.

17 . An electronic system, comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one output device;

at least one processor device operably coupled to the input device and the output device; and

at least one memory device operably coupled to the at least one processor device and comprising:

a number of memory cells; and

circuitry configured to:

generate, in response to a first signal driven on a word line of the number of word lines, a second a signal with a voltage, current, or timing characteristic, or combination thereof that modifies a conductance of a memory cell of the number of memory cells;

transmit the second signal to a bit line coupled to the memory cell; and

transmit, in response to a spike signal of a neuron driven on the bit line, a decaying bias feedback signal to each memory cell on the bit line.

18 . The electronic system of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to generate the spike signal in response to a membrane potential of the neuron meeting a predetermined threshold.

19 . The electronic system of claim 18 , wherein:

the conductance of the memory cell increases in response to the second signal if the first signal is driven on the word line before the spike signal is generated; and

the conductance of the memory cell decreases in response to the second signal if the first signal is driven on the word line after the spike signal of is generated.

20 . The electronic system of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to integrate current on the bit line.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 17007588 · Aug 31, 2020
Provisional Application 62896267 · Sep 5, 2019
Related Publication 20240273349A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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