Logic gate formed neuron type processing element

The authors present the design of neuron-type circuit elements based on logic circuits, mainly NAND gates. Three types of subcircuits were introduced, one called the cell body with its dendritic inputs, another representing the axon base, and the final one mimicking the axon. The resulting design was an asynchronous sequential circuit. This neuron-type processing element (NTPE) computes the sum of binary weighted input pulses incorporating temporal as well as spatial summation and thresholding. This process has been accomplished by introducing a time constraint variable in the operation of the NTPE. With the availability of VLSI techniques to implement these NTPEs, full neural-type systems, including computers, can be conceived and constructed using presently available IC technology. Alternatively, they can be assembled from off-the-shelf logic circuits. >