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Near-sensor and in-sensor computing

Nature Electronics volume 3, pages 664–671 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

The number of nodes typically used in sensory networks is growing rapidly, leading to large amounts of redundant data being exchanged between sensory terminals and computing units. To efficiently process such large amounts of data, and decrease power consumption, it is necessary to develop approaches to computing that operate close to or inside sensory networks, and that can reduce the redundant data movement between sensing and processing units. Here we examine the concept of near-sensor and in-sensor computing in which computation tasks are moved partly to the sensory terminals. We classify functions into low-level and high-level processing, and discuss the implementation of near-sensor and in-sensor computing for different physical sensing systems. We also analyse the existing challenges in the field and provide possible solutions for the hardware implementation of integrated sensing and processing units using advanced manufacturing technologies.

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Fig. 1: Sensory computing architectures.
Fig. 2: Illustrations of low-level sensory processing architectures and functions.
Fig. 3: Near-sensor and in-sensor high-level sensory processing.
Fig. 4: Integration technologies for near-sensor and in-sensor computing.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (15205619) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1-ZVGH and ZG6C).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China

    Feichi Zhou & Yang Chai

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  1. Feichi Zhou
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  2. Yang Chai
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Contributions

Y.C. conceived the project. F.Z. performed the literature research and prepared the figures. F.Z. and Y.C. carried out comparative analysis and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yang Chai.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Peer review information Nature Electronics thanks Feng Miao, Chih-Cheng Hsieh and Thomas Mueller for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Zhou, F., Chai, Y. Near-sensor and in-sensor computing. Nat Electron 3, 664–671 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-020-00501-9

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