A Time-Based Readout for Vector-Matrix Multiplication in Fully Analog Memristive SNNs

Abstract

Artificial neural networks rely on vector-matrix multiplications (VMMs), whose implementation in von Neumann architectures is dominated by costly data movement between memory and processing units. Spiking neural networks (SNNs) mitigate this bottleneck by performing in-memory, analog VMMs using memristive crossbar arrays. However, conventional current-mode readout circuits incur significant area and power overhead. This work proposes a fully analog readout architecture based on voltage-to-time conversion of the VMM output. By sensing the column voltage, the proposed approach avoids current-mode summing and scaling circuitry, improving area and energy efficiency. Post-layout simulations of a 10x1 SNN implemented in a 130 nm CMOS technology validate the proposed architecture, while application to a trained 64x10 SNN for digit classification further demonstrates its feasibility for SNN inference.