Cellular Neural Networks

Cellular Neural Networks (CNNs) constitute a class of nonlinear, recurrent and locally coupled arrays of identical dynamical cells that operate in parallel. ANALOG chips are being developed for use in applications where sophisticated signal processing at low power consumption is required. Signal processing via CNNs only becomes efficient if the network is implemented in analogue hardware. In view of the physical limitations that analogue implementations entail, robust operation of a CNN chip with respect to parameter variations has to be insured. By far not all mathematically possible CNN tasks can be carried out reliably on an analogue chip; some of them are inherently too sensitive. This book defines a robustness measure to quantify the degree of robustness and proposes an exact and direct analytical design method for the synthesis of optimally robust network parameters. The approach yields solutions which are optimum with respect to robustness, an aspect which is crucial for successful implementation of the analogue CNN hardware that has often been neglected.