Abstract: This work
proposes a time-mode translinear principle as a process and voltage scalable technique
for nonlinear analog computation that is independent of transistor physics. The
principle utilizes the exponential relationships between a variable of interest and time
in a first order system to realize nonlinear analog computation. A voltage-mode analog
multiplier using this principle ... read moreis introduced. The circuit is then reformulated as a
purely time-mode multiplier to reduce the power consumption of the circuit itself as
well as the analog-to-digital interface. Next, an asynchronous, differential
implementation is proposed for further reducing the power consumption and boosting the
dynamic range. Other useful linear and nonlinear circuit functions are also explored.
Finally, the design of an application system, an analog neuromorphic image saliency
algorithm, is described to motivate the new technique for pattern recognition
hardware.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University,
2017.
Submitted to the Dept. of Electrical
Engineering.
Advisor: Sameer
Sonkusale.
Committee: Christopher Salthouse,
Valencia Koomson, Bradley Minch, Remco Change, Shuchin Aeron, and Brent
Hollosi.
Keywords: Electrical engineering, and
Computer
science.read less
