Optical digital matrix multiplication apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Another object of this invention is to provide an updatable programmable mask for use in performing digital matrix multiplication using cavityless, optical bistability.
Still another object of this invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for optical digital matrix multiplication utilizing an updatable programmable mask (matrix) which can be controlled by addressing it with an optical beam.
Each element of this matrix is a multistable device in which the transmission can be determined by addressing it with an optical beam whose intensity controls the transmission state.
Still yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved optical multistable device that permits digital computation with high accuracy and in which two-dimensional arrays of multistable devices operate as a two-dimensional updatable spatial light modulator.
Yet still another object of this invention is to provide new and improved optical digital matrix multiplication apparatus that can be switched relatively rapidly.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, apparatus for optical digital matrix multiplication includes a first plurality of control means for providing a like first plurality of optical control beams.
The control beams are directed along paths excluding a prohibited area.
Programmable optical matrix means have a like first plurality of pixels oriented thereabout.
The pixels have variable discrete optical densities dependent upon the intensities of the control beams that are directed thereupon.
A second plurality of light sources provide a like second plurality of focused parallel sheets of light onto the pixels.
The sheets of light are directed in directions other than the directions of the control beams.
Detecting means, oriented in the prohibited area, receive light transmitted along a third plurality of parallel planes.
The parallel planes are orthogonal to the second plurality of parallel sheets of light.
Means focus light along each of the planes onto corresponding ones of the detecting means