2021 BRN Discussion, page-13728

Hi Branded,

The claim in Intel's application was:

1 . An apparatus for detecting keywords in audio, comprising:
an audio receiver to receive audio comprising a keyword to be detected;
a spike transducer to transduce the audio into a plurality of spikes; and
a spiking neural network to receive one or more of the spikes and generate a spike corresponding to a detected keyword.
The claim in their granted patent is:

1. An apparatus for detecting keywords in audio, comprising:
an audio receiver to receive audio comprising a keyword to be detected;
a spike transducer to transduce the audio into a plurality of spikes,
the spike transducer to convert the audio into the plurality of spikes using a sample window width based on a duration of a key-phrase that comprises a duration that is based on a longest key phrase to be detected; and
a spiking neural network to receive one or more of the spikes and generate a spike corresponding to a detected keyword.

As you can see the application claim was extremely broad. The scope of the patent claim has been narrowed by the inclusion of a sample window having a duration equal to the length of the longest key word.

While the whole of the prior document is considered when determining inventiveness, Brainchip's claim in US10157629 is:

1. A neuromorphic system for controlling an electronic device through voice control commands, the system comprising:
a spiking neuron adaptive processor comprising a hierarchical arrangement of a first spiking neural network and a second spiking neural network,
wherein the first spiking neural network is configured to:
receive output spikes from an artificial cochlea,
wherein the artificial cochlea is configured to produce the output spikes based on a pulse code modulation signal,
wherein one or more decimation filters convert a pulse density modulation signal into the pulse code modulation signal, and
wherein one or more microphones convert a voice signal into the pulse density modulation signal;
perform a cognitive and learning function that detects spike patterns in the output spikes, wherein the spike patterns indicate a presence of a voice activity in the output spikes; and
activate the second spiking neural network through a digital interface from a low energy halted or off state based on the presence of the voice activity in the output spikes.

In patent claims, words are the enemy - the fewer the better as far as getting broad scope is concerned. But, as Ella says, it ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it, and Intel's patent claim does it a different way from Brainchip's disclosure.

The Intel application was filed on 18 October 2019.

Brainchip filed a provisional application on 5 February 2016, and added new information on 6 February 2017 when filing the complete specification. (Must have been a weekend in there).