Patent ID: 6178020
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G06E

Abstract:
A photonic computing module, comprising:a first optical/electro-optical element;means for encoding said first optical/electro-optical element with a two dimensional mathematical function representing input data;a second optical/electro-optical element having a characteristic response corresponding to an iterative algorithm useful for solving a partial differential equation;an optical/electro-optical recirculation means including at least one of light delaying means and light boosting means;means for optically or electro-optically collecting output data;a first gate having a first and second modes of operation, said first mode of operation enabling light from said illuminated first optical/electro-optical element to illuminate said second optical/electro-optical element and said second mode of operation enabling light from said recirculation means to illuminate said second optical/electro-optical element;a second gate having first and second modes of operation, said first mode of operation enabling light from said illuminated second optical/electro-optical element to illuminate said collecting means and said second mode of operation enabling light from said illuminated second optical/electro-optical element to illuminate said recirculation means; and, means for controlling said first and second gates such that after a beam of collimated light initially illuminates said first optical/electro-optical element and said first optical/electro-optical element initially illuminates said second optical/electro-optical element, an optical iterative solution path is formed by said second optical element, said second gate, said optical recirculation means and said first gate, until after a predetermined number of iterations said second optical element illuminates said optical collecting means.