Accelerate neural networks with compression at different levels

Abstract

A neural network accelerator includes 2multiplier circuits, 2shifter circuits and an adder tree circuit. Each respective multiplier circuit multiplies a first value by a second value to output a first product value. Each respective first value is represented by a first predetermined number of bits beginning at a most significant bit of the first value having a value equal to 1. Each respective second value is represented by a second predetermined number of bits, and each respective first product value is represented by a third predetermined number of bits. Each respective shifter circuit receives the first product value of a corresponding multiplier circuit and left shifts the corresponding product value by the first predetermined number of bits to form a respective second product value. The adder circuit adds each respective second product value to form a partial-sum value represented by a fourth predetermined number of bits.