The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
May. 04, 2001
Bingxue Shi, Beijing, CN;
Guoxing Li, Beijing, CN;
Winbond Electronics Corp., Hsinchu, TW;
Abstract
A winner-take-all (WTA) circuit apparatus for comparing two current inputs from a WTA circuit to a threshold current to create a reject signal, to assist in the decision criteria of a winner-take-all network. The circuit compares the two input currents from the WTA circuit by using NMOS transistors which perform electrical mathematical functions by manipulating the currents. The end result is that the difference of the two currents is compared with a reference current and a voltage level is outputted. The reference current is adjustable, and the invention also provides a WTA circuit with weighted inputs, and the ability to select between a 1-WTA, and a 2-WTA configuration. The invention therefore solves the problems of prior art by being capable of properly selecting current levels or rejecting current levels which are too close in value, with a voltage reject signal.