Methods and systems are provided for operating a neuromorphic system for generating neuron and synapse activities. The method includes: preparing at least one digital timer in the neuromorphic system, each of the at least one digital timers including multi-bit digital values; generating time signals using the at least one digital timer; emulating an analog waveform of a neuron spike; updating parameters of the neuromorphic system using the time signals and the current values of the parameters; presetting, using a processor, the digital values of the at least one digital timer to initial values when the spike input is provided to the node; and updating, using the processor, the digital values of the at least one digital timer with a specified amount when there is an absence of a spike input to the node.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method for operating a neuromorphic system for generating neuron activity, comprising: preparing at least one digital timer in the neuromorphic system, each of the at least one digital timers including multi-bit digital values; generating time signals using the at least one digital timer, the time signals showing a time that has elapsed since a spike input was provided to at least one node of a synapse in the neuromorphic system; updating parameters of the neuromorphic system using the time signals and the current values of the parameters; presetting, using a processor, the digital values of the at least one digital timer to initial values when the spike input is provided to the node; and updating, using the processor, the digital values of the at least one digital timer with a specified amount when there is an absence of a spike input to the node. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one digital timers emulate an analog waveform of a neuron spike. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the updating parameters of the neuromorphic system further comprises: decrementing synapse weight values; updating the neuron membrane potential; and incrementing the synapse weight values, wherein each step is performed separately and in sequence. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the steps of decrementing the synapse weight values, updating the neuron membrane potential, and incrementing the synapse weight values are performed in each of at least one evaluation time cycle that corresponds to each of the time signals generated by the digital timers. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the at least one evaluation time cycle has a hierarchical timing configuration. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the steps of decrementing synapse weight values, updating the neuron membrane potential, and incrementing the synapse weight values has its own respective sub-time cycle associated with every node of the synapse in the neuromorphic system. 7. The method of claim 3, further comprising making a serial to parallel conversion of a post-neuron output signal after the updating the neuron membrane potential and before the incrementing the synapse weight values. 8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for operating a neuromorphic system for generating neuron activity, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of: preparing at least one digital timer in the neuromorphic system, each of the at least one digital timers including multi-bit digital values; generating time signals using the at least one digital timer, the time signals showing a time that has elapsed since a spike input was provided to at least one node of a synapse in the neuromorphic system; updating parameters of the neuromorphic system using the time signals and the current values of the parameters; presetting, using a processor, the digital values of the at least one digital timer to initial values when the spike input is provided to the node; and updating, using the processor, the digital values of the at least one digital timer with a specified amount when there is an absence of a spike input to the node. 9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the digital timers emulate an analog waveform of a neuron spike. 10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on the computer causes the computer to further perform the steps of: decrementing synapse weight values; updating the neuron membrane potential; and incrementing the synapse weight values, wherein each step is performed separately and in sequence. 11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the steps of decrementing the synapse weight values, updating the neuron membrane potential, and incrementing the synapse weight values are performed in each of at least one evaluation time cycle that corresponds to each of the time signals generated by the digital timers. 12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 11, wherein each of the at least one evaluation time cycle has a hierarchical timing configuration. 13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein each of the steps of decrementing synapse weight values, updating the neuron membrane potential, and incrementing the synapse weight values has its own respective sub-time cycle associated with every node of the synapse in the neuromorphic system. 14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on the computer causes the computer to further perform the step of: making a serial to parallel conversion of a post-neuron output signal after the updating the neuron membrane potential and before the incrementing the synapse weight values. 15. A system for operating a neuromorphic system for generating neuron activity, comprising: a memory; at least one hardware-based one digital timer, each of the at least one digital timers including multi-bit digital values; and a hardware-based processor configured to: generate time signals using the at least one digital timer, the time signals showing a time that has elapsed since a spike input was provided to at least one node of a synapse in the neuromorphic system; update, in the memory, parameters of the neuromorphic system using the time signals and the current values of the parameters; preset the digital values of the digital timers to initial values when the spike input is provided to the node; update the digital values of the digital timers with a specified amount when there is an absence of a spike input to the node; and emulate an analog waveform of a neuron spike with at least one digital timer. 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the hardware-based processor is further configured to perform the steps of: decrementing synapse weight values; updating the neuron membrane potential; and incrementing the synapse weight values, wherein each step is performed separately and in sequence. 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the steps of decrementing the synapse weight values, updating the neuron membrane potential, and incrementing the synapse weight values are performed in each of at least one evaluation time cycle that corresponds to each of the time signals generated by the digital timers. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the at least one evaluation time cycle has a hierarchical timing configuration. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the steps of decrementing synapse weight values, updating the neuron membrane potential, and incrementing the synapse weight values has its own respective sub-time cycle associated with every node of the synapse in the neuromorphic system. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the hardware-based processor is further configured to make a serial to parallel conversion of a post-neuron output signal after the updating the neuron membrane potential step and before the incrementing the synapse weight values step.