Engineers have long been fascinated by how efficient and how fast biological neural networks are capable of performing such complex tasks as recognition. Such networks are capable of recognizing input data from any of the five senses with the necessary accuracy and speed to allow living creatures to survive. Machines which perform such complex tasks as recognition, with similar ac curacy and speed, were difficult to implement until the technological advances of VLSI circuits and systems in the late 1980's. Since then, the field of VLSI Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have witnessed an exponential growth and a new engineering discipline was born. Today, many engineering curriculums have included a course or more on the subject at the graduate or senior under graduate levels. Since the pioneering book by Carver Mead; "Analog VLSI and Neural Sys tems", Addison-Wesley, 1989; there were a number of excellent text and ref erence books on the subject, each dealing with one or two topics. This book attempts to present an integrated approach of a single research team to VLSI ANNs Engineering.

This book is an edited selection of the papers presented at the International Workshop on VLSI for Artifidal Intelligence and Neural Networks which was held at the University of Oxford in September 1990. Our thanks go to all the contributors and especially to the programme committee for all their hard work. Thanks are also due to the ACM-SIGARCH, the IEEE Computer Society, and the lEE for publicizing the event and to the University of Oxford and SUNY-Binghamton for their active support. We are particularly grateful to Anna Morris, Maureen Doherty and Laura Duffy for coping with the administrative problems. Jose Delgado-Frias Will Moore April 1991 vii PROLOGUE Artificial intelligence and neural network algorithms/computing have increased in complexity as well as in the number of applications. This in tum has posed a tremendous need for a larger computational power than can be provided by conventional scalar processors which are oriented towards numeric and data manipulations. Due to the artificial intelligence requirements (symbolic manipulation, knowledge representation, non-deterministic computations and dynamic resource allocation) and neural network computing approach (non-programming and learning), a different set of constraints and demands are imposed on the computer architectures for these applications.

Neural Information Processing and VLSI provides a unified treatment of this important subject for use in classrooms, industry, and research laboratories, in order to develop advanced artificial and biologically-inspired neural networks using compact analog and digital VLSI parallel processing techniques. Neural Information Processing and VLSI systematically presents various neural network paradigms, computing architectures, and the associated electronic/optical implementations using efficient VLSI design methodologies. Conventional digital machines cannot perform computationally-intensive tasks with satisfactory performance in such areas as intelligent perception, including visual and auditory signal processing, recognition, understanding, and logical reasoning (where the human being and even a small living animal can do a superb job). Recent research advances in artificial and biological neural networks have established an important foundation for high-performance information processing with more efficient use of computing resources. The secret lies in the design optimization at various levels of computing and communication of intelligent machines. Each neural network system consists of massively paralleled and distributed signal processors with every processor performing very simple operations, thus consuming little power. Large computational capabilities of these systems in the range of some hundred giga to several tera operations per second are derived from collectively parallel processing and efficient data routing, through well-structured interconnection networks. Deep-submicron very large-scale integration (VLSI) technologies can integrate tens of millions of transistors in a single silicon chip for complex signal processing and information manipulation. The book is suitable for those interested in efficient neurocomputing as well as those curious about neural network system applications. It has been especially prepared for use as a text for advanced undergraduate and first year graduate students, and is an excellent reference book for researchers and scientists working in the fields covered.

This book constitutes, together with its compagnion LNCS 1606, the refereed proceedings of the International Work-Conference on Artificial and Neural Networks, IWANN'99, held in Alicante, Spain in June 1999. The 91 revised papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the book. This volume is devoted to applications of biologically inspired artificial neural networks in various engineering disciplines. The papers are organized in parts on artificial neural nets simulation and implementation, image processing, and engineering applications.

Analog VHDL brings together in one place important contributions and up-to-date research results in this fast moving area. Analog VHDL serves as an excellent reference, providing insight into some of the most challenging research issues in the field.

A self-contained text, suitable for a broad audience. Presents basic concepts in electronics, transistor physics, and neurobiology for readers without backgrounds in those areas. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Machine learning is a potential solution to resolve bottleneck issues in VLSI via optimizing tasks in the design process. This book aims to provide the latest machine-learning–based methods, algorithms, architectures, and frameworks designed for VLSI design. The focus is on digital, analog, and mixed-signal design techniques, device modeling, physical design, hardware implementation, testability, reconfigurable design, synthesis and verification, and related areas. Chapters include case studies as well as novel research ideas in the given field. Overall, the book provides practical implementations of VLSI design, IC design, and hardware realization using machine learning techniques. Features: Provides the details of state-of-the-art machine learning methods used in VLSI design Discusses hardware implementation and device modeling pertaining to machine learning algorithms Explores machine learning for various VLSI architectures and reconfigurable computing Illustrates the latest techniques for device size and feature optimization Highlights the latest case studies and reviews of the methods used for hardware implementation This book is aimed at researchers, professionals, and graduate students in VLSI, machine learning, electrical and electronic engineering, computer engineering, and hardware systems.