Digital Logic And Computing With Optics

A A Sawchuk

doi:10.1117/12.939375

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27 November 1984 Digital Logic And Computing With Optics

A A Sawchuk

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Proceedings Volume 0456, Optical Computing; (1984) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.939375
Event: 1984 Los Angeles Technical Symposium, 1984, Los Angeles, United States

Abstract

This paper briefly reviews analog and discrete optical computing systems; it then concentrates on binary digital optical computers in which photons are the primary information medium. A critical review of various techniques for optically implementing combinatorial and sequential logic by individual devices and arrays of devices are given. The problems of communications, interconnections and input-output among logic devices (gates) , among arrays of devices (chips) and among processors are discussed. A particular optical system architecture that uses a computer-generated hologram to interconnect a planar array of logic gates in a third dimension is presented. Some of these architectures offer the potential of parallel processing, including non von Neumann digital computers. Some existing limitations and needs of optical logic devices and computing systems are discussed.

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A A Sawchuk "Digital Logic And Computing With Optics", Proc. SPIE 0456, Optical Computing, (27 November 1984); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.939375

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