Patent Document ID: 4660166
Application ID: 06693479
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A network of nonlinear devices having continuous input-output relations for parallel processing of input signals, having useful collective decisional properties to which all of the input signals make a contribution to some degree in the range from 0 to 100%, comprising a matrix of N input and N output conductors, where N is a positive integer greater than 1, and each of said N output conductors may be a pair of complementary positive and negative conductors, N amplifiers of high gain, each amplifier having at least a positive output terminal and optionally a complementary negative output terminal for the case of each output conductor being comprised of a pair, each input conductor of said array being connected to the input terminal of a separate one of said amplifiers, and each amplifier having its output terminal connected to a separate one of said output conductors, each amplifier of a series. .. i, j, k. .. having its output conductor connected to the input conductor of a separate selected amplifier, where each connection is implemented with a resistor R.sub.ij, and the value of each resistor is selected for the nature of the decisional operation intended to satisfy the following circuit equation of motion: ##EQU21## where the subscript letters i and j designate representative ones of said series of amplifiers, the magnitude T.sub.ij is a conductance equal to 1/R.sub.ij which defines the network decisional properties, u.sub.i is the input to amplifier i at the starting time t.sub.o, I.sub.i is an input signal from a high impedance current source connected to amplifier i, and V.sub.j is the output of amplifier j due to an input u.sub.j thereto, thereby presenting on said output conductors a decision expressed as binary word of N bits after said network has reached a stable state to which the conductances between amplifiers force the network.