US4418394A
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Optical residue arithmetic computer having programmable computation module
Assignee: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MICH A CORP OF MI
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Filing: 1980-08-13
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Granted: 1983-11-29
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Expires: 2000-08-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical computer based on the residue number system employs a plurality of computational modules which may be programmed using electronic pulses to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations. Each module comprises an array of optical switches in the form of directional wave guide couplers interconnected by optical transmission paths to form a series of maps corresponding to a given modulus. The optical switches are arranged in rows and groups of rows may be selectively activated to adapt the module to perform various arithmetic operations. One residue is input to the module in the form of light pulses and is spatially arranged to automatically select the proper map to perform a desired function. The optical switches in each row thereof are electrically interconnected to a bi-stable electrical switch that simultaneously switches all of the logical switches in that row in accordance with a programming input pulse delivered to one of the bi-stable switches. The light output from the last row of optical switches correspond to the function of two residues whose function has been computed and is delivered in spatially oriented form. The inputs of the electrical switches associated with one module may be connected with the light output of another module so as to permit various functions, such as polynomials, to be computed using chain processing techniques. Arrangements for encoding, decoding, and scaling are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony M. Tai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06E; G06E1/00; G06E1/02; G06E1/06; G06E1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A computation module for generating a function of two residues in the residue number system, comprising: an array of light switches arranged in a plurality of rows, each of said light switches having a light receiving input and a light delivering output, first input means for inputting a light signal into one of said light switches in said first row thereof as a function of a first of said two residues, the last of said plurality of rows of light switches including output means for outputting a light signal from said module at a position which is a function of said two residues, a plurality of light transmission paths interconnecting said rows of light switches to define a plurality of light transmitting channels between said first input means and said output means, second input means for inputting electrical signals into said module as a function of the second of said two residues, and switching means responsive to said second input means for switching all the light switches in a particular one of said rows thereof determined by the identity of said second of said two residues, whereby said light signal is channeled through the array and is output from said output means at said position corresponding to the function of said two residues.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A computation module for generating a function of two residues in the residue number system, comprising: an array of light switches arranged in a plurality of rows, each of said light switches having a light receiving input and a light delivering output, first input means for inputting a light signal into one of said light switches in said first row thereof as a function of a first of said two residues, the last of said plurality of rows of light switches including output means for outputting a light signal from said module at a position which is a function of said two residues, a plurality of light transmission paths interconnecting said rows of light switches to define a plurality of light transmitting channels between said first input means and said output means, second input means for inputting electrical signals into said module as a function of the second of said two residues, and switching means responsive to said second input means for switching all the light switches in a particular one of said rows thereof determined by the identity of said second of said two residues, whereby said light signal is channeled through the array and is output from said output means at said position corresponding to the function of said two residues.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The module of claim 1, wherein said light switches in said rows thereof are arranged in a first, second, third and fourth group thereof for respectively performing first, second, third and fourth switching operations on said light signal, and said second input means comprises a first, second, third and fourth electrical input connected with said switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The module of claim 2, wherein each of said light switches comprises an electrically switchable, optical wave guide coupler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The module of claim 2, wherein the two residues are modulo M and said third group of rows of said light switches are arranged in M rows of N columns thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The module of claim 2, wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of bi-stable electrical devices, at least one of said bi-stable devices being operably coupled with each row of said light switches, each of said bi-stable devices being operable to change its state in response to certain of said electrical signals input to said second input means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 2, wherein the output thereof represents the sum of the inputs thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 2, wherein the output thereof represents the difference of the inputs thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 2, wherein the output thereof represents the products of the inputs thereto.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for computing an arithmetical function for modulus M in the residue number system comprising: a first programmable computation module including a plurality of rows of light switches each having a pair of light input means for receiving light into the corresponding light switch and a pair of light output means for delivering light from the corresponding switch, said rows being arranged in first, second, third and fourth groups thereof for performing first, second, third and fourth transform functions of a first set of two residues, a first set of M input means coupled with the light switches in the first row thereof for receiving into said module input light signals representing one of the two residues in said first set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form, a second set of M input means for receiving into said module input electrical signals representing the other of the two residues in said first set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form, switching means operably coupled with each of said light switches and with said second set of M input means for switching all the light switches in a particular one of said rows thereof determined by said other of the two residues, and a set of M output means coupled with certain of said light switches for delivering from said module output light signals representing a function of the two residues in said first set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
243 words
A system for computing an arithmetical function for modulus M in the residue number system comprising: a first programmable computation module including a plurality of rows of light switches each having a pair of light input means for receiving light into the corresponding light switch and a pair of light output means for delivering light from the corresponding switch, said rows being arranged in first, second, third and fourth groups thereof for performing first, second, third and fourth transform functions of a first set of two residues, a first set of M input means coupled with the light switches in the first row thereof for receiving into said module input light signals representing one of the two residues in said first set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form, a second set of M input means for receiving into said module input electrical signals representing the other of the two residues in said first set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form, switching means operably coupled with each of said light switches and with said second set of M input means for switching all the light switches in a particular one of said rows thereof determined by said other of the two residues, and a set of M output means coupled with certain of said light switches for delivering from said module output light signals representing a function of the two residues in said first set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 9, wherein each of said light switches comprises a radiant energy directional wave guide coupler.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said wave guide coupler comprises a pair of optically coupled synchronous wave guides and said light switch further includes means for creating an electrical field across said optically coupled wave guides to unsynchronize said wave guides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 9, wherein one output of one of the light switches in the first row thereof is directly coupled with one of the inputs of a light switch in the last row thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the light switches in said one group of rows thereof are arranged in columns, one output of each of said last named light switches forming one input of a neighboring light switch in the same column, the other output of each of said last named light switches forming the other input to a light switch in a different column.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of bi-stable electrical switches, one associated with each row of said light switches and connected with all the light switches in the associated row whereby to cause each of the light switches in the associated row to assume the same switching state, in accordance with the state of the bi-stable electrical switch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 14, wherein said second set of M input means are each respectively operably coupled with the input of a corresponding one of said bi-stable electrical switches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
269 words
The system of claim 9, including a second programmable computation module comprising a plurality of rows of light switches each having a pair of light input means for receiving light into the corresponding light switch and a pair of light output means for delivering light from the corresponding light switch, said rows being arranged in first, second, third and fourth groups thereof for performing first, second, third and fourth transform functions of a second set of two residues, a first set of M input means coupled with the light switches in the first row thereof for receiving into said second module input light signals representing one of the residues in said second set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form, a second set of M input means coupled with said set of M output means of said first module for receiving input electrical signals representing said function of the two residues in said first set thereof output from said M output means of said first module and corresponding to the other of the residues in said second set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form, switching means operably coupled with each of said light switches in said second module for switching all of the light switches in a particular one of said rows thereof determined by said other of the residues in said second set thereof, a set of M output means coupled with certain of said light switches in said second module for delivering from said second module output light signals representing a function of the residues in said second set thereof in a predetermined spatially oriented form.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 16, including a plurality of means, one associated with each of said second set of M input means to said second module and operably coupled with one of said M output means of said first module, for converting said output light signals to electrical signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 17, wherein each of said signal converting means comprises a photo sensitive diode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 17, wherein said switching means of said second module comprises a plurality of bi-stable electrical switches respectively coupled between said second set of M input means of said second module and said plurality of means for converting said output light signals to electrical signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 17, including means operably coupled with at least one of said first sets of M input means of said first and second modules adapted for encoding source data into an equivalent residue in a predetermined spatial representation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said encoding means comprises an analog to digital convertor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 20, including means coupled with said set of M output means of said second module for decoding said function of the residues of said first set thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
98 words
The system of claim 22, wherein said decoding means comprises a decoding module including a decoding module including a plurality of light switches optically connected with each other and adapted to be connected with a source of light pulses, said decoding module further including a plurality of switching inputs respectively operably coupled with said last named light switches and with said set of M output means of said second module for selectively controlling said light switches of said decoding module, said decoding module further including an M set of light output means for delivering decoded light pulses therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-28 | 1987-05-30 | 1987-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-28 | 1991-05-30 | 1991-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-28 | 1995-05-30 | 1995-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |