threshold element

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threshold element (threshold gate) A logic element whose output is determined by comparing a weighted sum of inputs with a predetermined/prescribed threshold value. If the threshold is exceeded, the output is a logic 1; if not, the output is logic 0. If the number of inputs is odd, if the weights are all equal, and the threshold is equal to half of the number of inputs, then the threshold element behaves as a majority element.

A system of threshold elements is described by or as threshold logic. See also ternary threshold gate.