INTELLIGENT MEMORIES IN VLSI

A concept of an intelligent memory, called an adaptive associative system (AAS), is described from the system level down to the device level. The text processing and pattern recognition performance of an AAS is discussed by means of computer simulations, with emphasis on such outstanding features as fault tolerance, semantic association, autosegmentation, and self-organization of information. The system concept of such a memory is rendered adequate for the VLSi technique by partitioning into repetitive memory units and by introducing a nonvolatile memory cell. The importance of interaction in realizing an AAS as a microelectronic component is pointed out for both system design and VLSI technology.