NESP2: a low power analog neural signal processor with analog weight storage
Mario Costa, D. Palmisano, Eros Gian Alessandro Pasero · 2000
Analog artificial neural networks (ANN) could be the core of an "intelligent" signal processor, with the today used digital processing replaced by a raw "data driven" methodology. Characteristic of this approach is: analog input/output: signals don't need A/D and D/A converters; speed: an analog system can be faster than a digital or a mixed-mode one; effectiveness: ANN already demonstrated their power in many applications; low power: analog circuits can save power. NESP2 is a neural signal processor which offers the above characteristics and is based on a traditional, available and not expensive double polysilicon double metal commercial VLSI process.