ARITHMETIC UNIT FOR APPROXIMATE CALCULATIONS IN NEURAL NETWORKS

摘要

The invention relates to an arithmetic unit (1) for calculating an approximate value for a product (3) or a sum of two input numbers (2a, 2b), said arithmetic unit comprising a plurality of arithmetic modules (4, 4a, 4b), wherein at least one of said arithmetic modules (4a) is designed to calculate individual products or individual sums of digits of the input numbers (2a, 2b), and wherein a plurality of arithmetic modules (4b) is connected in an adder (5) which is designed to calculate digits (3a-3k) of the product (3) or of the sum based on the individual products or based on the individual sums, wherein at least one arithmetic module (4), which is required for the calculation of at least one individual product or of an individual sum and/or for the propagation of said individual product or of said individual sum onto the product (3) or the sum, is not in the arithmetic unit (1) or is connected there in such a way that it can be selectively deactivated completely or partially during the running time of the arithmetic unit (1).