| 摘要 |
A multi-well diode is disclosed which can be used with other electronic components as an electronic neuron circuit. Structural embodiments of the multi-well diode are disclosed having a p-i-n, n-i-n, or p-i-p configurations. In addition, the wells of the i-region are disclosed as being either n-type or p-type semiconductor material. The multi-well diode has an S-shaped current-voltage characteristic curve at forward bias whereby it remains in a low conductance state until its threshold voltage is exceeded, then switches through an unstable region of its characteristic curve into a high conductance state. The multi-well diode remains in the high conductance state until its bias voltage and current drops below its holding condition, at which time it switches into a low conductance state. The multi-well diode can be used in a pulse-mode input circuit, thereby generating a pulse-mode output signal which can have a different amplitude and frequency than the input signal. Such pulse-mode input circuits can be either excitatory or inhibitory in operation. The multi-well diode can also be used in a direct current input circuit, having a pulse-mode output signal having a frequency which is related to the input signal's voltage or current. Such circuits emulate biological neurons in electrical characteristics. Such circuits also can have multiple inputs and outputs, and those inputs and outputs can be individually weighted (which is also similar to the operation of biological neurons). The electronic neuron circuits can alternatively be used with optical input or output signals rather than electrical input/output signals. Such circuits can be integrated into neural systems. Using a symmetrical multi-well diode, the electronic neuron circuit can operate in both the excitatory and inhibitory modes simply by using input voltages that are either positive-going or negative-going in polarity.
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