My thoughts on recent patents.
The latest patents awarded to BrainChip from the USPTO include:
- US 11,468,299 "An Improved Spiking Neural Network," protects the learning function of BrainChip's digital neuron circuit implemented on a neuromorphic integrated circuit/system (e.g., AkidaTM).
- US 11,429,857, "Secure Voice Communications System," protects a system to establish secure voice communications between a local and a remote neural network device. Information is encrypted by transmitting spike timing rather than original data, rendering it useless to anyone intercepting the transmission.
- BrainChip also acquired full ownership of the IP rights related to JAST learning rule and algorithms from French technology transfer-based company TTT, including issued patent EP3324344 and pending patents US2019/0286944 and EP3324343. The invention related to the acquired IP rights include pattern detection algorithms that provide BrainChip with significant competitive advantages. The company held an exclusive license for the IP prior to their acquisition.
The 1st patent (11,468,299) will make it very difficult for any competitor to obtain "one shot" learning which is advantageous for event based sensors particularly visual event based sensors like Sony/Prophesee EVS. The EVS combines Sony’s stacked CMOS image sensor technology (the back-illuminated CMOS image sensor top chip) with Prophesee’s Metavision event-based vision sensing technology (the logic circuit bottom chip). The most recent podcast between Brainchip and Prophesee revealed that the CEO of Prophesee is very bullish on the complementary technology between Prophesee and Brainchip...Prophesee is based on the natural science of the eye and Brainchip is based on the natural science of the brain and since the eye is an outgrowth of the brain, the 2 technologies are like hand and glove...conveyed by Prophesee's CEO in those lines. So future Sony/Prophesee EVS (not sure about the first generation of these sensors though) is bound to contain Brainchip's IP...cannot be any more obvious than this after that podcast!
The 2nd patent (11,429,857) is also very interesting and I think particularly relevant to the advancement of AI with 5G network. Information is encrypted by transmitting spike timing rather than original data, rendering it useless to anyone intercepting the transmission...important in cyber security for connecting cloud based AI centers with edge AI devices. This is why SNN will be the edge AI platform for the future!
As for JAST, this is an internal communication system between the neurons and synapses that makes Brainchip's SNN more efficient and unique. Other competitors not only have to come up with how to create more digital neurons and synapses, they have to make these neurons and synapses learn quickly like in one-shot and they have to form a communication system between the neurons and synapses to allow effective learning, inferences, memory and execution. These are not easy tasks...just ask Intel and IBM!
Brainchip is playing the perfect game at the moment and it is actually the perfect time to do it behind the smoke screen of the turmoil in economies, looming covid pandemic and geopolitical tension. This gives it time to establish its foundation. It knows it holds the next generation edge AI technology which has a good chance of becoming the "standard", so instead of going gung-ho in the path of trying to sell as many hardware chips as possible...like what chip companies have been doing in the past, it is gradually and strategically spreading its IP into the AI ecosystem, taking its time to form solid partners by interlinking technologies, and gradually expanding people's knowledge with its SNN platform. This is the mindset of the visionaries at Brainchip rather than just business people...as always, all IMO and please DYOR.
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