Patent Document ID: 5430830
Application ID: 08293631
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. In a neural network having at least one processing element utilizing a learning algorithm EQU W.sub.i =W.sub.i-1 +.eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) where: W.sub.i =data representative of a weight, W.sub.i-1 =data representative of a previous weight, .eta.=a plasticity signal, and X.sub.i =data representative of an input signal, a method of generating adaptive weight adjustments with extended precision for the processing element, comprising the steps of: generating data representative of the term .eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) and additional fractional data representative of the term .eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1); monitoring the term .eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) and the fractional data and performing one of the following steps adding the term .eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) to the term W.sub.i-1 when the data representative of the term .eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) is not equal to zero, adding a first predetermined amount to the term W.sub.i-1 when the term .eta.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) equals zero and the fractional data is greater than a set amount, and adding a second predetermined amount to the term W.sub.i-1 when the data representative of the term .function.*(X.sub.i -W.sub.i-1) equals zero and the fractional data is less than a set amount.