An optical matrix-vector multiplier project

Author

Ittycheriah, Abraham P. ; Walkup, John F. ; Krile, Thomas F.

Author_Institution

Texas Instrum., Dallas, TX, USA

Volume

34

Issue

4

fYear

1991

fDate

11/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

317

Lastpage

321

Abstract

The implementation of an optical matrix vector multiplier (OMVM) as a project to demonstrate to undergraduates the parallel capabilities of computing with light, the advantages and disadvantages of analog computers, and noise considerations for accurate results is discussed. The OMVM is designed using waveguides and is interfaced to an Apple IIGS. Software and hardware designs are explained in detail. The Hartley transform is developed as an application, with the transforming elements input on a film mask, the input represented by the intensity of LEDS, and the output detected using photodiodes. Test and measurements using the architecture are discussed. Simple methods for improving the performance of the system are presented

Keywords

educational aids; matrix algebra; optical information processing; parallel architectures; Apple IIGS; Hartley transform; LED; analog computers; film mask; optical matrix vector multiplier; parallel computing; photodiodes; undergraduates; waveguides; Analog computers; Application software; Concurrent computing; Hardware; Optical computing; Optical films; Optical noise; Optical waveguides; Software design; Transmission line matrix methods;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Education, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9359

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/13.102848

Filename

102848