F. Werblin et al., THE ANALOGIC CELLULAR NEURAL-NETWORK AS A BIONIC EYE, International journal of circuit theory and applications, 23(6), 1995, pp. 541-569
The conception of the CNN universal machine has led quite naturally to
the invention of the analogic CNN bionic eye (henceforth referred to
simply as the bionic eye). The basic idea is to combine the elementary
functions, the building blocks, of the retina and other 2 1/2 D senso
ry organs,, algorithmically, in a stored programme of a CNN universal
machine, through the use of artificial analogic programmes, The term b
ionic is defined in a rigorous way: it is a nonlinear, dynamic, spatio
temporal biological model implemented in a stored programme electronic
(optoelectronic) device; this device is in our case the analogic CNN
universal machine (or chip). The aim of this paper is to report on thi
s new invention, particularly to electronic and computer engineers, in
a tutorial way. We begin by summarizing (1) the biological aspects of
the range of retinal function (the retinal universe), (2) the CNN par
adigm and the CNN universal machine architecture and (3) the general p
rinciples of retinal modelling in CNN, Next we describe new CNN circui
t and template design innovations that can be used to implement physio
logical functions in the retina and other sensory organs using the CNN
universal machine. Finally we show how to combine given retinal funct
ional elements implemented in the CNN universal machine with analogic
algorithms to form the bionic retina. The resulting system can be used
not only for simulating biological retinal function but also for gene
rating functions that go far beyond biological capabilities. Several b
ionic retina functions, different topographic modalities and analogic
CNN algorithms can then be combined to form the analogic CNN bionic ey
e. The qualitative aspects of the models, especially the range of dyna
mics and accuracy considerations in VLSI optoelectronic implementation
s, are outlined, Finally, application areas of the bionic eye and poss
ibilities of constructing innovative devices based on this invention (
such as the bionic eyeglass or the visual mouse) are described.