Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis

Abstract Edge computing devices, which generate, collect, process, and analyze data near the source, enhance the data processing efficiency and improve the responsiveness in real-time applications or unstable network environments. To be utilized in wearable and skin-attached electronics, these edge...

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Main Authors: Younghyun Lee, Hakseung Rhee, Geunyoung Kim, Woon Hyung Cheong, Do Hoon Kim, Hanchan Song, Sooyeon Narie Kay, Jongwon Lee, Kyung Min Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59589-2
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author Younghyun Lee
Hakseung Rhee
Geunyoung Kim
Woon Hyung Cheong
Do Hoon Kim
Hanchan Song
Sooyeon Narie Kay
Jongwon Lee
Kyung Min Kim
author_facet Younghyun Lee
Hakseung Rhee
Geunyoung Kim
Woon Hyung Cheong
Do Hoon Kim
Hanchan Song
Sooyeon Narie Kay
Jongwon Lee
Kyung Min Kim
author_sort Younghyun Lee
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Edge computing devices, which generate, collect, process, and analyze data near the source, enhance the data processing efficiency and improve the responsiveness in real-time applications or unstable network environments. To be utilized in wearable and skin-attached electronics, these edge devices must be compact, energy efficient for use in low-power environments, and fabricable on soft substrates. Here, we propose a flexible memristive dot product engine (f-MDPE) designed for edge use and demonstrate its feasibility in a real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system. The f-MDPE comprises a 32 × 32 crossbar array embodying a low-temperature processed self-rectifying charge trap memristor on a flexible polyimide substrate and exhibits high uniformity and robust electrical and mechanical stability even under 5-mm bending conditions. Then, we design a neural network training algorithm through hardware-aware approaches and conduct real-time edge ECG diagnosis. This approach achieved an ECG classification accuracy of 93.5%, while consuming only 0.3% of the energy compared to digital approaches, highlighting the strong potential of this approach for emerging edge neuromorphic hardware.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-3b065b29d208413fbe4cf5e2f5faea092025-08-20T03:09:20ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-59589-2Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosisYounghyun Lee0Hakseung Rhee1Geunyoung Kim2Woon Hyung Cheong3Do Hoon Kim4Hanchan Song5Sooyeon Narie Kay6Jongwon Lee7Kyung Min Kim8Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Semiconductor Convergence, Chungnam National University (CNU), 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-guAbstract Edge computing devices, which generate, collect, process, and analyze data near the source, enhance the data processing efficiency and improve the responsiveness in real-time applications or unstable network environments. To be utilized in wearable and skin-attached electronics, these edge devices must be compact, energy efficient for use in low-power environments, and fabricable on soft substrates. Here, we propose a flexible memristive dot product engine (f-MDPE) designed for edge use and demonstrate its feasibility in a real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system. The f-MDPE comprises a 32 × 32 crossbar array embodying a low-temperature processed self-rectifying charge trap memristor on a flexible polyimide substrate and exhibits high uniformity and robust electrical and mechanical stability even under 5-mm bending conditions. Then, we design a neural network training algorithm through hardware-aware approaches and conduct real-time edge ECG diagnosis. This approach achieved an ECG classification accuracy of 93.5%, while consuming only 0.3% of the energy compared to digital approaches, highlighting the strong potential of this approach for emerging edge neuromorphic hardware.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59589-2
spellingShingle Younghyun Lee
Hakseung Rhee
Geunyoung Kim
Woon Hyung Cheong
Do Hoon Kim
Hanchan Song
Sooyeon Narie Kay
Jongwon Lee
Kyung Min Kim
Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
Nature Communications
title Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
title_full Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
title_fullStr Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
title_full_unstemmed Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
title_short Flexible self-rectifying synapse array for energy-efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
title_sort flexible self rectifying synapse array for energy efficient edge multiplication in electrocardiogram diagnosis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59589-2
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