US Patent 11373092 Training of artificial neural networks

Methods are provided for training weights of an artificial neural network to be implemented by inference computing apparatus in which the trained weights are stored as programmed conductance states of respective predetermined memristive devices. Such a method includes deriving for the memristive devices a probability distribution indicating distribution of conductance errors for the devices in the programmed conductance states. The method further comprises, in a digital computing apparatus: training the weights via an iterative training process in which the weights are repeatedly updated in response to processing by the network of training data which is propagated over the network via the weights; and applying noise dependent on said probability distribution to weights used in the iterative training process.