Patent US 7,904,398

Neuron component and method for use in artificial neural networks (ANNs) with input synapses (204, 204b . . . 204n), each synapse includes multiple weights called synapse weights (206-1, 206-2, 206-3). Each synapse further includes a facility to modulate, or gate, an input signal connected to the synapses, by each of the respective synapse weights within the synapse, supplying the result of each modulating operation. The neuron also sums the results of all modulating operations, and subjects the results to a transfer function. Each of the multiple weights associated with a given synapse, may be specified to have its own weight-adjustment facility (214, 214b, 214c), with its own error-values (216, 216b, 216c), and its own specified learning and aspect (1000) includes a separate sum (1018, 1018b) and transfer function (1020, 1020b) for each synapse weight.