Patent US3007328A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3013725A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4747069A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4747069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable multistage lensless optical data processing system
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
•
Filing: 1987-07-02
•
Granted: 1988-05-24
•
Expires: 2007-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An optical data processing system employing a programmable optical data processor for processing an optical data beam comprising a plurality of zero, one and two-dimensional modulators for spatially modulating the optical data beam, the modulators being interconnected such that lenses are not necessary to accomplish the focusless transfer of the optical data beam between the modulators. The plurality of modulators are controlled so as to permit the programmable processing of the optical data beam. The optical data processor realized is physically solid and compact and is readily capable of performing a wide variety of optical computations.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Grinberg
- 👤 Bernard H. Soffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06E; G06E3/00; G06E3/001; G06E3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for processing an optical data beam to selectively perform optical computation from a plurality of performable optical computations, comprising: (a) modulator means including a plurality of modulator planes for spatially modulating said optical data beam, (b) means for the lensless interconnection of respective ones of said plurality of modulator planes so as to provide for the focusless transfer of said optical data beam between respective said plurality of modulator planes; and (c) means for providing data to selected modulator planes, said data being provided in a manner dependent on the desired optical computation, so as to permit the programmable processing of said desired optical computation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for processing an optical data beam to selectively perform optical computation from a plurality of performable optical computations, comprising: (a) modulator means including a plurality of modulator planes for spatially modulating said optical data beam, (b) means for the lensless interconnection of respective ones of said plurality of modulator planes so as to provide for the focusless transfer of said optical data beam between respective said plurality of modulator planes; and (c) means for providing data to selected modulator planes, said data being provided in a manner dependent on the desired optical computation, so as to permit the programmable processing of said desired optical computation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modulator planes comprises at least first, second and third spatial light modulator planes, at least said first and second spatial light modulator planes each including means for the one-dimensional modulation of said optical data beam, said first spatial light modulator plane being crossed with respect to said second spatial light modulator plane, both crossed with respect to said optical data beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of modulator planes further comprises at least one spatial light modulator plane including a two-dimensional array of pixel means for the two-dimensional modulation of said optical data beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: (a) source means for providing said optical data beam; and (b) receiver means for receiving said optical data beam, said source means and said receiver means being coupled by said lensless interconnection means to respective ones of said modulator planes, said receiver means including accumulator means for accumulating said optical data beam data and shifting and summing said data so as to permit execution of shift-and-sum optical operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said lensless interconnection means provides for the physical, substantially rigid interconnection of said plurality of modular planes so that said apparatus is essentially solid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said source means provides incoherent light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said lensless interconnection means comprises fiber optic means for the lensless guided transport of said optical data beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of modulator planes means comprises an electro-optic crystal having first and second major surfaces lying substantially transverse to said optical data beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said one-dimensional light modulation means of said at least first and second spatial light modulator planes and said two-dimensional light modulation means of said at least one spatial light modulator plane each compromise a plurality of patterned electrodes overlying said first major surface of a respective one of said crystals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said light modulation means of said at least first and second spatial light modulator planes is further characterized as a pattern of parallel strip electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light modulation means of said at least one additional spatial light modulator planes is further characterized as a matrix array of electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical processor system for processing data provided in an optical beam, said system comprising: (a) means for providing an optical beam; (b) at least three spatial light modulator planes; (c) means for receiving said optical beam; (d) means for interconnecting said at least three spatial light modulator planes such that said optical beam passes through said plurality of modulator planes; and (e) means for controlling and providing data selectively to said at least three modulator planes so as to provide for the programmable transfer of data to said optical beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An optical processor system for processing data provided in an optical beam, said system comprising: (a) means for providing an optical beam; (b) at least three spatial light modulator planes; (c) means for receiving said optical beam; (d) means for interconnecting said at least three spatial light modulator planes such that said optical beam passes through said plurality of modulator planes; and (e) means for controlling and providing data selectively to said at least three modulator planes so as to provide for the programmable transfer of data to said optical beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said interconnecting means includes lensless means for the focusless transfer of said optical beam between each one of said at least three spatial light modulator planes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said interconnecting means interconnects said beam providing means and said beam receiving means with respective ones of said at least three spatial light modulator planes such that said optical beam is focuslessly transferred thereinbetween.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said at least three of spatial light modulator planes includes a one-dimensional spatial light modulator plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said at least three spatial light modulator planes includes first and second one-dimensional spatial light modulator planes oriented mutually orthogonal with respect to one another and said optical beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said at least three spatial light modulator planes includes one and two-dimensional spatial light modulator planes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said receiving means is further characterized as being coupled to a control processor for the transfer of data, from said receiving means to an output, in response to a signal from said control processor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said interconnecting means comprises: (a) a fiber optic plate providing structural support for at least one modulator plane of said at least three modulator planes; and (b) an optical beam polarizer, interposed between said at least one modulator plane and said fiber optic plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said beam providing means provides incoherent light.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said beam providing means is further characterized as a source selected from the group consisting of flat electroluminescent sources, light emitting diode (LED) sources, plasma sources and partially coherent LED laser sources.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
124 words
An optical computer for performing calculations on data by processing an optical data beam, said computer comprising: (a) flat panel means for providing said optical data beam; (b) a plurality of spatial light modulator planes selected from the group consisting of one-dimensional, two-dimensional pixel array linear matrix multiplier and systolic array spatial light modulators; (c) accumulator means for receiving and acting upon said optical data beam by accumulating and shifting; and (d) interconnecting means for the lensless coupling of said flat panel means, said plurality of spatial light modulator planes, and said accumulator means so as to provide for the focusless transfer of said optical data beam from said flat panel means to said accumulator means through said plurality of spatial light modulator planes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
124 words
An optical computer for performing calculations on data by processing an optical data beam, said computer comprising: (a) flat panel means for providing said optical data beam; (b) a plurality of spatial light modulator planes selected from the group consisting of one-dimensional, two-dimensional pixel array linear matrix multiplier and systolic array spatial light modulators; (c) accumulator means for receiving and acting upon said optical data beam by accumulating and shifting; and (d) interconnecting means for the lensless coupling of said flat panel means, said plurality of spatial light modulator planes, and said accumulator means so as to provide for the focusless transfer of said optical data beam from said flat panel means to said accumulator means through said plurality of spatial light modulator planes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The optical computer of claim 22 wherein said interconnecting means comprises: (a) a plurality of fiber optic plates for the rigid support of said plurality of spatial light modulator planes; and (b) a plurality of polarizing plates, said flat panel means being further characterized as providing a uniform incoherent optical beam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
71 words
The optical computer of claim 23 further comprising: (a) a control processor; (b) electrode means for respectively controlling said plurality of spatial light modulator planes for the transfer of data to said optical data beam; (c) a plurality of buffer means coupled with said electrode means and said control processor for the mutual exchange of data therewith; and (d) means for transferring data from said accumulator means to said control processor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3989355A
Cited
US4225938A
Cited
DE3121436A1
Cited
US4344675A
Cited
US4440472A
Cited
JPS57198434A
Cited
DE3218244A1
Cited
US4588255A
Cited
US4567569A
Cited
US4544229A
Cited
US4544230A
Cited
US4579417A
Cited
US4595994A
Cited
US4569033A
Cited
US4556950A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-24 | 1991-11-23 | 1992-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-24 | 1995-11-23 | 1996-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-24 | 1999-11-23 | 2000-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |