An active beam-scanning optoelectronic logic gate

A novel system for optoelectronic logic operations is proposed using far-field deflection of a beam-scanning laser diode. Basic experimental results are presented using spatially coded optical signals. All binary logic gates which are symmetric with respect to the two inputs (eight gates including AND, OR, and XOR) are realised by a device composed of two input photodetectors, two amplifiers, and a beam scanning laser diode. Experimental results of a few representative logic operations are demonstrated. This optoelectronic system has two important advantages: all logical gates can be designed with only a few elements, and logical functions are easily integrated because of the uniform size and delay of each circuit