Event-based extraction of features in a convolutional spiking neural network

Abstract

A system is described that comprises a memory for storing data representative of at least one kernel, a plurality of spiking neuron circuits, and an input module for receiving spikes related to digital data. Each spike is relevant to a spiking neuron circuit and each spike has an associated spatial coordinate corresponding to a location in an input spike array. The system also comprises a transformation module configured to transform a kernel to produce a transformed kernel having an increased resolution relative to the kernel, and/or transform the input spike array to produce a transformed input spike array having an increased resolution relative to the input spike array. The system also comprises a packet collection module configured to collect spikes until a predetermined number of spikes relevant to the input spike array have been collected in a packet in memory, and to organize the collected relevant spikes in the packet based on the spatial coordinates of the spikes, and a convolutional neural processor configured to perform event-based convolution using memory and at least one of the transformed input spike array and the transformed kernel.