Computing based on the physics of nano devices—A beyond-CMOS approach to human-like intelligent systems

This paper proposes a new computing architecture to build human-like intelligent systems by best utilizing the physics of nano devices, or more specifically, the exotic current–voltage characteristics of nano-functional devices. The resonance characteristics arising from quantum effects in nano-scale devices are utilized as computing primitives of correlation and employed in building brain-mimicking VLSI systems. A number of subconscious processing taking place in our brains including early visual processing will be implemented in fine-grain parallel processing architectures using nano devices. In order to demonstrate the concept, the resonance characteristics of nano devices have been emulated by simple MOS bump circuitries, and real working proof-of-concept chips have been developed. Image recognition algorithms specifically developed for such brain mimicking systems are described, and the experimental results obtained form the measurement of analog, digital and mixed-signal VLSI chips as well as from computer simulations are presented as illustrative examples. In the last part of this paper, a perspective to the future is presented as a summary.