Asynchronous communication of 2D motion information using winner-takes-all arbitration

We describe a system that communicates motion information computed in a 2D photosensitive array using fully arbitered, asynchronous channels. The architecture is neurally inspired, and employs analog winner-takes-all (WTA) circuits, instead of the digital binary-tree arbiters found in other designs. We have fabricated a prototype system that incorporates an array of 9 x 12 pixels in a 2 mu m, double-polysilicon, double-metal process. Experimental results verify system functionality with a full-handshaking communication cycle of 3 mu s. We have tested the WTA circuits independently, and have verified their operation down to an 18 ns cycle.