PURPOSE: To provide an artificial neural synapse which functions as a modifiable simulative synapse. CONSTITUTION: A synapse 10 is formed as a silicon MOSFET, which is modified so as to have ions in a gate oxide 22. Ions such as lithium, sodium, potassium, or fluorinated ions are selected for drifting in the gate oxide through the operation of an applied electric field. In response to a plus voltage applied to the gate terminal 24 of a device, ions which are positively charged such as sodium or potassium ions drift to the boundary of silicon and silicon diode, to increase a current passing through the device.
ARTIFICIAL ION SYNAPSE