Method to produce a neuromorphic synapse apparatus comprising a memelement for storing a synaptic weight, and programming logic. The memelement is adapted to exhibit a desired programming characteristic. The programming logic is responsive to a stimulus prompting update of the synaptic weight for generating a programming signal for programming the memelement to update said weight. The programming logic may be responsive to an input signal indicating an input weight-change value ΔWi, and may be adapted to generate a programming signal dependent on the input weight-change value ΔWi. The programming logic is adapted such that the programming signals exploit the programming characteristic of the memelement to provide a desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method for producing a neuromorphic synapse apparatus having a desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy, the method comprising: providing a memelement for storing a synaptic weight, the memelement being adapted to exhibit a desired programming characteristic; and providing programming logic, responsive to a stimulus prompting update of the synaptic weight, for generating a programming signal for programming the memelement to update said weight; wherein the method includes configuring the programming logic such that the programming signals exploit said programming characteristic to provide said desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the providing programming logic is responsive to an input signal indicating an input weight-change value, the method comprising: adapting the programming logic to generate a programming signal dependent on the input weight-change value. 3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: implementing STDP logic for receiving pre-neuron and post-neuron action signals, and adapting the STDP logic to generate said input weight-change value in dependence on time-difference between said action signals. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the neuromorphic synapse apparatus includes an input terminal for receiving said input signal and an output terminal for providing a synaptic output signal dependent on said synaptic weight, the method further comprising: adapting the programming logic to control the memelement for producing the synaptic output signal at the output terminal. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said programming signal comprises a respective set of n programming pulses, the method further comprising: adapting the programming logic to control at least one of the programming pulse shape and the value of n to provide the desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the programming logic responds to an input signal indicating an input weight-change value, said method further comprising: adapting the programming logic to generate a programming signal dependent on the input weight-change value, and wherein the dependence of the programming signal on the input weight-change value varies in a predetermined manner over a plurality of input weight-change values so as to provide the desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy. 7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: reconfiguring the programming logic in response to a control signal for dynamically varying the desired weight-dependent synaptic update efficacy. 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the memelement has a modulated shape to provide said desired programming characteristic. 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the memelement comprises a memristor. 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the memelement comprises a resistive memory cell. 11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the cell comprises a resistive material located between first and second electrodes, and an electrically-conductive component extending in a direction between the electrodes in contact with the resistive material, and the method further comprising: adapting the electrically-conductive component to provide said desired programming characteristic. 12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the memelement comprises a phase-change memory cell. 13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising: adapting the programming signals to effect peripheral crystallization of an amorphous volume of said phase-change material. 14. The method of claim 1 implemented in a neuromorphic system comprising a pre-neuron circuit for generating a pre-neuron action signal, a post-neuron circuit for generating a post-neuron action signal, and said neuromorphic synapse apparatus, wherein: the synapse apparatus includes an output terminal connected to the post-neuron circuit; said method further comprising: adapting the programming logic to control the memelement for producing a synaptic output signal, dependent on said synaptic weight, at the output terminal; and said stimulus prompting update of the synaptic weight is dependent on the pre-neuron and post-neuron action signals. 15. The method according to claim 14 wherein: the synapse apparatus further comprises STDP logic for receiving the pre-neuron and post-neuron action signals, the method further comprising: adapting said STDP logic to generate an input weight-change value in dependence on time-difference between said action signals; and adapting said programming logic to generate a said programming signal in response to said input weight-change value.