Exact ReLU Realization for Affine Refinement Operators

Boldsaikhan Bolorkhuu, Tsogtgerel Gantumur· July 24, 2026 View original

Summary

This research demonstrates that vector-valued affine refinement operators can be exactly realized by fixed-width ReLU networks with linear depth, particularly for certain scaling factors. The key innovation involves a residual memory controller and offset frames to handle noninvertible dynamics and align forcing atoms.

This paper investigates the exact realization of vector-valued affine refinement operators using Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) networks. These operators, which involve sums over scaled and shifted versions of a function, are shown to be precisely implementable by ReLU networks of a fixed width and a depth that scales linearly with the number of iterations, especially for scaling factors of three or more. A crucial component of this achievement is the introduction of a "residual memory controller." This controller effectively manages the noninvertible aspects of the residual dynamics by transforming them into an injective skew-product, allowing for precise backward reconstruction of residual states. Additionally, "offset frames" are used to strategically position forcing atoms, preventing ambiguities and ensuring exact recovery of values. The method also applies to specific cases with a scaling factor of two and extends to more general forcing terms, offering a significant upgrade in realizing recursive constructions with linear depth.

Why it matters

This work provides fundamental insights into the computational power and architectural requirements of ReLU networks for representing complex iterative processes, which is crucial for designing more efficient and theoretically grounded deep learning models.

How to implement this in your domain

  1. 1Analyze the mathematical underpinnings of this realization to understand its implications for network design.
  2. 2Explore how residual memory controllers could be adapted for other types of recurrent or iterative neural network architectures.
  3. 3Consider the potential for applying these exact realization techniques to specific problems involving affine transformations or refinement schemes.

Who benefits

AI/ML DevelopmentComputer GraphicsSignal ProcessingScientific Computing

Key takeaways

  • Affine refinement operators can be exactly realized by fixed-width ReLU networks with linear depth for certain scaling factors.
  • A novel residual memory controller enables exact backward replay of residual states.
  • Offset frames help align forcing atoms, ensuring precise value recovery.
  • This research offers foundational insights into the representational capabilities of ReLU networks for iterative processes.

Original post by Boldsaikhan Bolorkhuu, Tsogtgerel Gantumur

"arXiv:2607.20586v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We study vector-valued affine refinement operators of the form [ (W\gamma)(t)=\sum_{j\in\mathbb{Z}} A_j\gamma(Mt-j)+B(t), ] with finitely supported matrix mask and compactly supported continuous piecewise linear input and forcing da…"

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Originally posted by Boldsaikhan Bolorkhuu, Tsogtgerel Gantumur on X · view source

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