%0 Generic
%A Hock, Matthias
%D 2014
%F heidok:17129
%K neuromorphic hardware,  semiconductor technology,  analog dynamic memory,  dual port SRAM    
%R 10.11588/heidok.00017129
%T Modern Semiconductor Technologies for Neuromorphic Hardware  
%U https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/17129/
%X Neuromorphic hardware is a promising tool for neuroscience and technological applications. This thesis addresses the question to what extent such systems can benefit from advances in CMOS scaling using the existing BrainScales Hardware System as a reference. A 65 nm process technology was selected and basic characteristics were evaluated using prototype chips. A system providing a large number of programmable voltage and current sources, based on capacitive storage cells, was developed. A novel scheme for refreshing the cells is presented. This system has been characterized in silicon. Two components required in a concept for synapse implementation, consisting of primarily digital circuits, were developed and tested in a prototype chip. One is an orthogonal dual-port SRAM with a specialized  structure where every 8 bit word stored in the memory can be accessed by a single operation from either port. The second is an 8 bit current DAC which is used for generating postsynaptic events. Finally the analog neuron implementation from the existing system was transfered to the 65 nm process technology using thick-oxide transistors. Simulations suggest that comparable performance can be achieved. In conclusion, modern process technologies will contribute to successful realization of large-scale neuromorphic hardware systems.