Liquid Crystal Optical Computing for Reprogrammable Parallel Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parallel optical computing systems face challenges with complex interfaces between optical and digital systems, requiring reprogrammable and compact hardware for industrial use, especially in high-complexity computational tasks like neuronal and artificial intelligence networks.
Innovation Solution
A parallel optical computing system utilizing liquid crystal cells for modulation and processing of light, with modules configured as optical modulators and processors, enabling versatile software and hardware configurations for efficient data input/output and calculation operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optical computing systems use complex interfaces between optical and digital systems, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the optical computing functionality from complex optical-digital interfaces by implementing dedicated optical processing units that can perform computational operations directly in the optical domain, eliminating the need for continuous optical-to-digital conversion and reducing interface complexity while maintaining data transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical signal processing components as intermediaries that bridge optical and digital domains through standardized interfaces, enabling efficient data transmission while managing complexity through modular design and protocol standardization
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical computing systems are designed for industrial use with reprogrammability, then versatility is improved, but hardware complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamically reconfigurable optical processing units that can change their computational functionality through software control, allowing the same hardware to perform different optical computing operations (such as different neural network layers or signal processing algorithms) without physical reconfiguration, thus achieving industrial-grade versatility with manageable hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal optical processing modules that can execute multiple types of computational operations through programmable control, enabling a single hardware platform to serve various industrial applications including but not limited to neural network inference, image processing, and optical signal modulation, thereby achieving versatility without proportionally increasing hardware complexity
3Volume of moving object
If optical computing systems use compact hardware design, then space efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested modular architecture where optical processing units, signal processing components, and control electronics are integrated in hierarchical layers, with smaller functional modules nested within larger system modules, achieving compact form factor while maintaining manufacturability through standardized module interfaces and assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical computing system into discrete functional modules (such as optical signal sources, modulators, processing elements, and detectors) that can be manufactured and tested independently before integration, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements by allowing error isolation and modular replacement while achieving compact system form factor
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves optimized performance for data processing and calculation within the optical system, supporting reprogrammability and compact hardware design, facilitating high-complexity computations.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal cell, arranged between two glass walls, which can be programmed in order to rotate the polarisation plane of a beam of light crossing said cell
Implementation Method 2
at least one first polarization filter and at least one second polarization filter
Data Source
AI summary
A parallel optical computing system is described, said system comprising:at least one first module (10) comprising at least one polarization filter (12) and at least one liquid crystal cell (13), the first module (10) being configured as an optical modulator (100) for receiving light from a light source (70) and for encoding the light output from the liquid crystal cell (13) into optical data to be processed;at least one second module (20) comprising at least one polarization filter (22) and at least one liquid crystal cell (23), the second module (20) being able to be configured as an optical processor (200) for receiving the optical data to be processed and for outputting an optical result of the processing;at least one optical detector (40), designed to receive the optical result of the processing and convert the optical result into a corresponding electrical result.