This is the only laboratory in the School of Life Sciences and Systems Engineering that is undertaking full-scale research on the design of LSIs that incorporate analogue circuits. We are conducting basic research on creating models of brain function, incorporating these into integrated circuits and using them to make robots and machines that function in a human fashion. Convinced that combinations of merely 0 and 1 can never approach the human being, no matter how large the computer, we aim to develop a high-functioning integrated system that combines analogue and digital circuits just as are used in the brain. Using visual and image processing as one key support, our goal is to develop simple models of the process up to the point where information is cognitively recognized in the brain and to develop chips that can recognize images. We are involved in a broad range of educational and research activities from design and evaluation of analogue and digital integrated circuits to systemizing technology. This is an LSI design program suitable for people who want to create brain function models and apply them to hardware. Making the most out of our laboratory's special features, we initiate students in the design basics for LSIs that incorporate analogue technology. While automation through programming is well advanced in the design of conventional digital LSIs, this program gives students hands-on experience in LSIs with analogue type functions that cannot be achieved through exclusively digital LSIs. Students not only learn formulas and theory but also acquire practical technology through circuit simulations. Although a basic grounding in electric circuits is necessary, we welcome students from other disciplines of study. To Page Top