ASIC design for robust signal and image processing

Maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation using a robust signal model is capable of extracting a signal from additive noise, preserving edges in the signal estimate. A digital network can compute the estimate numerically using the gradient descent algorithm, or an analog network can be designed which provides the estimate as a steady-state output. An ASIC designed to perform robust signal processing has been manufactured, using the Huber-Markov random field (HMRF) signal model. This robust model is dependent upon two tunable parameters, which may be adjusted for a particular signal due to the design of novel analog circuit blocks.<>