Retinal Processing Emulation in a Programmable 2-Layer Analog Array Processor CMOS Chip

A bio-inspired model for an analog programmable array processor (APAP), based on studies on the vertebrate retina, has permitted the realization of complex programmable spatiotemporal dynamics in VLSI. This model mimics the way in which images are processed in the visual pathway, rendering a feasible alternative for the implementation of early vision applications in standard technologies. A prototype chip has been designed and fabricated in a 0.5µm standard CMOS process. Computing power per area and power consumption is amongst the highest reported for a single chip. Design challenges, tradeoffs and some experimental results are presented in this paper.