Adaptive mixed digital and analog computational storage systems

Abstract

Various embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a mixed digital and analog domain approach to computational storage or memory applications. The mixed approach enables certain compute operations to be advantageously performed in the analog domain, achieving power saving. In some embodiments, an analog compute core is implemented based on a first set of memory elements that are made available with a second set of memory elements for digital data storage. A controller coupled to both sets of memory elements is able to selectively direct computational tasks to either the analog compute core or a digital processor coupled with the controller, based on one or more parameters including power, precision, and workload. In certain embodiments involving neural network tasks, the controller is configured to route certain tasks to the analog compute core based on neural network based factors such as network layer positioning and input signal type.