Mimicking the retinal neuron functions by a photoresponsive single transistor with a double gate.

To realize a low-cost neuromorphic visual system, employing an artificial neuron capable of mimicking the retinal neuron functions is essential. A photoresponsive single transistor neuron composed of a vertical silicon nanowire is proposed. Similar to retinal neurons, various photoresponsive characteristics of the single transistor neuron can be modulated by light intensity as well as wavelength and have a high responsivity to green light like the human eye. The device is designed with a cylindrical surrounding double-gate structure, enclosed by an independently controlled outer gate and inner gate. The outer gate has the function of selectively inhibiting neuron activity, which can mimic lateral inhibition of amacrine cells to ganglion cells, and the inner gate can be utilized for the adjustment of the firing threshold voltage, which can be used to mimic the regulation of photoresponsivity by horizontal cells for adaptive visual perception. Furthermore, a myelination function that controls the speed of information transmission is obtained according to the inherent asymmetric source/drain structure of a vertical silicon nanowire. This work can enable photoresponsive neuronal function using only a single transistor, providing a promising hardware implementation for building miniaturized neuromorphic vision systems at low cost.

WITHDRAWN: Investigating the ERG a-wave and Retinal Diseases with Rod Equivalent Circuit Model Based on the APD.

This article has been withdrawn: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been withdrawn at the request of the Editor and Publisher, after being inadvertently published due to an editorial error. This error bears no reflection on the article or its authors. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.