SUMMARYRecently, research has been actively pursued to implement a neuron, which is the basic unit for building neural networks, in hardware with engineering applications as the objective. Specifically, pulse-type hardware neuron models, which approximately replicate pulse signals, have been examined as the information transmission stage in the brain. However, a pulse-type hardware neuron model is a complex circuit and includes inductors. Consequently, there are few practical models. In this paper, we present the Λ-type neuron model, which is a pulse-type hardware neuron model built from only enhancement-mode MOSFETs (EMOSFETs), which can be handled in a standard CMOS process, and capacitors, and is useful as a hardware neuron model intended for large-scale neural networks. First, we show that a Λ-type negative resistance circuit having a negative resistance that varies over time can be fabricated from E-MOSFETs, and explain its principle. Next, we show that this negative resistance circuit can be used to fabricate a Λ-type neuron model from E-MOSFETs, which can be handled in a standard CMOS process.
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