Enabling hierarchical data loading in a resistive processing unit (rpu) array for reduced communication cost

Abstract

An electronic circuit includes word lines; bit lines intersecting the word lines at a plurality of grid points; and resistive processing units located at the grid points. Baseline stochastic pulse input units are coupled to the word lines; differential stochastic pulse input units are coupled to the word lines; and bitline stochastic pulse input units are coupled to the bit lines. Control circuitry coupled to the pulse input units is configured to cause each of the baseline stochastic pulse input units to generate a baseline pulse train using base input data, each of the differential stochastic pulse input units to generate a differential pulse train using differential input data defining differences from the base input data, and each of the bitline stochastic pulse input units to generate a bitline pulse train using bit line input data. Neural network weights can thus be stored in the resistive processing units.