US 11,928,403 B2
Optimization apparatus and optimization method for annealing circuits
Masato Sasaki, Kawasaki (JP); and Satoshi Matsuura, Kawasaki (JP)
Assigned to FUJITSU LIMITED, Kawasaki (JP)
Filed by FUJITSU LIMITED, Kawasaki (JP)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/192,929.
Application 17/192,929 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2018/034000, filed on Sep. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0192109 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 30/20 (2020.01); G06F 5/01 (2006.01); G06F 7/485 (2006.01); G06F 119/08 (2020.01)
CPC G06F 30/20 (2020.01) [G06F 5/01 (2013.01); G06F 7/485 (2013.01); G06F 2119/08 (2020.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optimization apparatus comprising:
a plurality of annealing circuits configured to have respective states and respective temperatures differing from each other, to calculate respective evaluation function values responsive to the respective states, and to perform a state transition with probabilities responsive to the respective temperatures and the respective evaluation function values;
an exchange circuit configured to exchange the temperatures or the states between the plurality of annealing circuits with probabilities of exchange, a probability of exchange between two annealing circuits being calculated based on temperatures and evaluation function values of the two annealing circuits; and
a temperature adjustment circuit configured to change a post-exchange temperature of an annealing circuit of interest among the plurality of annealing circuits, the post-exchange temperature being a temperature immediately after exchange by the exchange circuit, such that a difference between the probability of exchange between the annealing circuit of interest and a first annealing circuit situated next thereto on a lower temperature side in a sequence arranged in order of temperature and the probability of exchange between the annealing circuit of interest and a second annealing circuit situated next thereto on a higher temperature side in the sequence arranged in order of temperature decreases,
each of the annealing circuits, the exchange circuit, and the temperature adjustment circuit are electronic circuits distinct from each other, and the annealing circuits are configured to operate in parallel to each other.