Basic Cellular Neural Networks Image Processing

Since its seminal publication in 1988, the Cellular Neural Network (CNN) (Chua & Yang, 1988) paradigm have attracted research community’s attention, mainly because of its ability for integrating complex computing processes into compact, real-time programmable analogic VLSI circuits (Rodríguez et al., 2004). Unlike cellular automata, the CNN model hosts nonlinear processors which, from analogic array inputs, in continuous time, generate analogic array outputs using a simple, repetitive scheme controlled by just a few real-valued parameters. CNN is the core of the revolutionary Analogic Cellular Computer, a programmable system whose structure is the so-called CNN Universal Machine (CNN-UM) (Roska & Chua, 1993). Analogic CNN computers mimic the anatomy and physiology of many sensory and processing organs with the additional capability of data and program storing (Chua & Roska, 2002). This article reviews the main features of this Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model and focuses on its outstanding and more exploited engineering application: Digital Image Processing (DIP).