Photonic accelerator for deep neural networks

Abstract

Devices and methods for performing computations for neural networks. A photonic locally-connected unit for a neural network accelerator includes a plurality of optical modulators, a positive accumulation waveguide, a negative accumulation waveguide, a plurality of optical adders, and first and second photodetectors. Each optical modulator receives a respective input optical signal and a respective electrical signal. Each optical signal is indicative of a value of input element, and each electrical signal is indicative of the value of a weight. Each optical modulator modulates the received input optical signal with the received electrical signal to generate a weighted optical signal. Each optical adder selectively couples one of the respective weighted optical signals into one of the positive or negative accumulation waveguides based on whether the respective weight is positive or negative. The first and second photodetectors generate an output current based on optical signals received from the accumulation waveguides.