Optical digital matrix multiplication apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for optical digital matrix multiplication comprising a first plurality of control means for providing a first plurality of optical control beams, wherein the number of said optical control beams is substantially equal to the number of said control means, said optical control beams having intensities that are digitally programmable to various multistable states, said control beams being directed along paths excluding a prohibited area; programmable optical matrix means having a first plurality of pixels oriented thereabout, wherein the number of said pixels is substantially equal to the number of said control beams, said pixels having variable discrete densities dependent upon the intensities of said control beams being directed thereupon; means for providing a second plurality of light sources for providing a second plurality of focused parallel sheets of light onto said pixels, wherein the number of said sheets of light is substantially equal to the number of said light sources, said sheets of light being directed in directions other than the directions of said control beams; detecting means oriented in said prohibited area for receiving light transmitted along a third plurality of parallel planes, said parallel planes being orthogonal to said second plurality of parallel sheets of light; and means for focusing light along each of said planes onto corresponding ones of said detecting means.