Patents by Inventor Kumiko Nomura

Kumiko Nomura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200302275
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a neural network apparatus includes cores, routers, a tree path, and a short-cut path. The cores are provided according to leaves in a tree structure, each core serving as a circuit that performs calculation or processing for part of elements of the neural network. The routers are provided according to nodes other than the leaves in the tree structure. The tree path connects the cores and the routers such that data is transferred along the tree structure. The short-cut path connects part of the routers such that data is transferred on a route differing from the tree path. The routers transmit data output from each core to any of the cores serving as a transmission destination on one of routes in the tree path and the short-cut path such that the calculation or the processing is performed according to a structure of the neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kumiko Nomura, Takao Marukame, Yoshifumi Nishi
  • Publication number: 20200293861
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an operation apparatus includes a first neural network, a second neural network, an evaluation circuit, and a coefficient-updating circuit. The first neural network performs an operation in a first mode. The second neural network performs an operation in a second mode and has a same layer structure as the first neural network. The evaluation circuit evaluates an error of the operation of the first neural network in the first mode and evaluates an error of the operation of the second neural network in the second mode. The coefficient-updating circuit updates, in the first mode, coefficients set for the second neural network based on an evaluating result of the error of the operation of the first neural network, and updates, in the second mode, coefficients set for the first neural network based on an evaluating result of the error of the operation of the second neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takao MARUKAME, Yoshifumi Nishi, Kumiko Nomura
  • Publication number: 20200090037
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a neural network device includes: a plurality of cores each executing computation and processing of a partial component in a neural network; and a plurality of routers transmitting data output from each core to one of the plurality of cores such that computation and processing are executed according to structure of the neural network. Each of the plurality of cores outputs at least one of a forward data and a backward data propagated through the neural network in a forward direction and a backward direction, respectively. Each of the plurality of routers is included in one of a plurality of partial regions each being a forward region or a backward region. A router included in the forward region and a router included in the backward region transmit the forward data and the backward data to other routers in the same partial regions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kumiko NOMURA, Takao MARUKAME, Yoshifumi NISHI
  • Publication number: 20200034695
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a synapse circuit includes: a buffer that changes an output signal to a second logical value at a timing when an input signal exceeds a first threshold level, in a case where the output signal has a first logical value in a first mode, and changes the output signal to the second logical value at a timing when the input signal exceeds a reference level lower than the first threshold level, in a case where the output signal has the first logical value in a second mode; an adjusting unit that adjusts the first threshold level depending on a stored coefficient; and a mode switching unit that operates the buffer in the first mode during a period in which an acquired spike is not generated, and operates the buffer in the second mode during a period in which the spike is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takao Marukame, Kumiko Nomura, Yoshifumi Nishi
  • Publication number: 20200026496
    Abstract: A calculation device includes: M coefficient storage units provided corresponding to the M coefficients, each of the M coefficient storage units including a positive-side coefficient and a negative-side coefficient representing a coefficient corresponding to a sign of a difference; M multiplication units provided corresponding to the M input values, each of the M multiplication units calculating a positive-side multiply value obtained by multiplying the positive-side coefficient included in the corresponding coefficient storage unit by a sign inverted according to the corresponding input value and a negative-side multiply value obtained by multiplying the negative-side coefficient included in the corresponding coefficient storage unit by a sign inverted according to the corresponding input value; and an output unit outputting an value according to a difference between a positive-side sum value obtained by summing the M positive-side multiplication values and a negative-side sum value obtained by summing the M
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takao MARUKAME, Yoshifumi NISHI, Kumiko NOMURA
  • Patent number: 10528270
    Abstract: A memory system has a nonvolatile memory to have a memory capacity equal to or less than a memory capacity of a volatile memory, and store at least a part of data stored in the volatile memory, a first controller to refresh data in the volatile memory, and a second controller to overwrite the nonvolatile memory with data read from the volatile memory in a first period between a second period to refresh data in the volatile memory and a third period to subsequently refresh data in the volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiko Abe, Hiroki Noguchi, Susumu Takeda, Kumiko Nomura, Shinobu Fujita
  • Publication number: 20200005130
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a reinforcement learning system includes a memristor array in which each of a plurality of first direction lines corresponds to one of a plurality of states, and each of a plurality of second direction lines corresponds to one of a plurality of actions, a first voltage application unit that individually applies voltage to the first direction lines, a second voltage application unit that individually applies voltage to the second direction lines, a action decision circuit that decides action to be selected by an agent in a state corresponding to a first direction line to which a readout voltage is applied, a action storage unit that stores action selected by the agent in each state that can be caused in an environment, and a trace storage unit that stores a time at which the state is caused by action selected by the agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Nishi, Radu Berdan, Takao Marukame, Kumiko Nomura
  • Publication number: 20190156180
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a neural network device includes a plurality of cores, and a plurality of routers. Each of the plurality of routers includes an input circuit and an output circuit. Each of the plurality of cores transmits at least one of forward direction data propagating in the neural network in a forward direction and reverse direction data propagating in the neural network in a reverse direction. The input circuit receives the forward direction data and the reverse direction data from any one of the plurality of cores and the plurality of routers. The output circuit or the input circuit selectively deletes the reverse direction data stored based on a request signal for requesting reception of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kumiko NOMURA, Takao Marukame
  • Publication number: 20190156181
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a neural network device includes a control unit, and a matrix computation unit. The control unit causes a plurality of layers to execute a forward process of propagating a plurality of signal values in a forward direction, and a backward process of propagating a plurality of error values in a backward direction. The matrix computation unit performs computation on a plurality of values propagated in the plurality of layers. The matrix computation unit includes (m×n) multipliers, and an addition circuit. The (m×n) multipliers are provided in one-to-one correspondence with (m×n) coefficients included in a coefficient matrix of m rows and n columns. The addition circuit switches a pattern for adding values output from the respective (m×n) multipliers between the forward process and the backward process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takao MARUKAME, Kumiko NOMURA
  • Patent number: 10236062
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a processor includes a core controlling processing data, a cache data area storing the processing data as cache data in a nonvolatile manner, a first tag area storing a tag data of the cache data in a volatile manner, a second tag area storing the tag data in a nonvolatile manner, a tag controller controlling the tag data. The tag controller determines whether the processing data is stored in the cache data area by acquiring the tag data from one of the first and second tag areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazutaka Ikegami, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kumiko Nomura, Hiroki Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20180081570
    Abstract: A memory system has a nonvolatile memory to have a memory capacity equal to or less than a memory capacity of a volatile memory, and store at least a part of data stored in the volatile memory, a first controller to refresh data in the volatile memory, and a second controller to overwrite the nonvolatile memory with data read from the volatile memory in a first period between a second period to refresh data in the volatile memory and a third period to subsequently refresh data in the volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Keiko ABE, Hiroki NOGUCHI, Susumu TAKEDA, Kumiko NOMURA, Shinobu FUJITA
  • Patent number: 9734061
    Abstract: A memory control circuit has a request determination circuitry to determine whether a period without read-out request and write request to an i-th (i being an integer of 1 or more and of n or less, n being an integer of 2 or more) level cache memory among first to n-th level cache memories continues for a first period of time or longer, the i-th level cache memory comprising a first nonvolatile memory, and a power-supply controller to control a power cut-off timing to the i-th level cache memory based on a determination of the request determination circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kumiko Nomura, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kazutaka Ikegami, Hiroki Noguchi, Susumu Takeda
  • Patent number: 9557801
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a cache device includes a cache memory, an access controller, and a power controller. The cache memory includes a plurality of memory areas associated with a plurality of ways, respectively. The access controller controls access to the memory areas. The power controller controls power supplied to each of the memory areas individually such that power supplied to a memory area that has not been accessed for a predetermined time is standby power that is lower than operating power that enables the memory area to operate. The power controller controls power supplied to a memory area such that standby power for a memory area that is highly likely to be accessed has a value closer to the operating power than a value of standby power for a memory area that is less likely to be accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kumiko Nomura, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kazutaka Ikegami, Hiroki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9524764
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a processor chip, and a memory chip stacked on the processor chip with bumps and including a memory cell unit and a memory logic unit. The bumps are arranged on the memory logic unit. An address and data are transferred between the processor chip and the memory chip by use of shared bumps of the bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazutaka Ikegami, Keiko Abe, Kumiko Nomura, Hiroki Noguchi, Shinobu Fujita
  • Publication number: 20160132430
    Abstract: A memory control circuit has a request determination circuitry to determine whether a period without read-out request and write request to an i-th (i being an integer of 1 or more and of n or less, n being an integer of 2 or more) level cache memory among first to n-th level cache memories continues for a first period of time or longer, the i-th level cache memory comprising a first nonvolatile memory, and a power-supply controller to control a power cut-off timing to the i-th level cache memory based on a determination of the request determination circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Kumiko Nomura, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kazutaka Ikegami, Hiroki Noguchi, Susumu Takeda
  • Patent number: 9003128
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, in a cache system, the sequence storage stores sequence data in association with each piece of data to be stored in the volatile cache memory in accordance with the number of pieces of data stored in the nonvolatile cache memory that have been unused for a longer period of time than the data stored in the volatile cache memory or the number of pieces of data stored in the nonvolatile cache memory that have been unused for a shorter period of time than the data stored in the volatile cache memory. The controller causes the first piece of data to be stored in the nonvolatile cache memory in a case where it can be determined that the first piece of data has been unused for a shorter period of time than any piece of the data stored in the nonvolatile cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kumiko Nomura, Keiko Abe, Shinobu Fujita
  • Publication number: 20140379975
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a processor includes a core controlling processing data, a cache data area storing the processing data as cache data in a nonvolatile manner, a first tag area storing a tag data of the cache data in a volatile manner, a second tag area storing the tag data in a nonvolatile manner, a tag controller controlling the tag data. The tag controller determines whether the processing data is stored in the cache data area by acquiring the tag data from one of the first and second tag areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazutaka IKEGAMI, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kumiko Nomura, Hiroki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8824199
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic random access memory includes a write circuit to write s-bit (s is a natural number equal to 2 or greater) write data to magnetoresistive elements, and a read circuit to read s-bit read data from the magnetoresistive elements. The control circuit is configured to select one of first and second modes based on a mode selection signal, read the read data by the read circuit and write one of the write data and inversion data of the write data to the magnetoresistive elements by the write circuit based on the read data and the write data if free space of the buffer memory is equal to a fixed value or more when the second mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroki Noguchi, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kumiko Nomura, Kazutaka Ikegami
  • Patent number: 8724403
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cache system includes a tag memory includes a volatile memory device, the tag memory includes ways and storing a tag for each line, a data memory includes a nonvolatile memory device including sense amplifiers for reading data, the data memory includes ways and storing data for each line, a comparison circuit configured to compare a tag included in an address supplied from an external with a tag read from the tag memory, and a controller configured to turn off a power of a sense amplifier for a way which is not accessed based on a comparison result of the comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kumiko Nomura, Shinobu Fujita, Keiko Abe, Kazutaka Ikegami, Hiroki Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20140104920
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a processor chip, and a memory chip stacked on the processor chip with bumps and including a memory cell unit and a memory logic unit. The bumps are arranged on the memory logic unit. An address and data are transferred between the processor chip and the memory chip by use of shared bumps of the bumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazutaka Ikegami, Keiko Abe, Kumiko Nomura, Hiroki Noguchi, Shinobu Fujita