Optical Cellular Wave Computer Implementation and Programming

Optical cellular wave computer (POAC) is one demanding implementation of the cellular neural network (CNN) theory. Its fundamental operation is correlation; hence optical correlators are the best candidates to perform as its core optical processor. This manuscript consists of three main parts: (1) comparison of the traditional correlators (joint Fourier transform and VanderLugt) and our novel searching correlator (SC) architecture providing their mathematical formulas; (2) the various SC architectures are reviewed focusing on our recent state of the art laptop version; and (3) the template library (optical micro-programs) design is reviewed with a novel method to avoid adaptive thresholding. Both simulation and experimental results show the high speed, high scalability and the unique programmability feature of our optical architecture