Optical Waveguide Query Symbol Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for locating or sequencing strings of query symbols within large sequences of reference symbols, such as in DNA or data analytics, are inefficient and require significant processing time, necessitating a substantial improvement in computing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of optical waveguides and optical interaction portions, including nonreciprocal gratings and luminescent materials, to identify relative locations of query symbols within a reference sequence by propagating photons and detecting output signals, which significantly reduces processing time and improves efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional computational methods are used to locate query symbols in large reference sequences, then accuracy of location can be achieved, but processing time becomes excessively long and computational resources are heavily consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electronic computational systems with an optical system using waveguides and photons to perform sequence matching. The optical system uses light propagation through waveguides to simultaneously compare query symbols against reference sequences, achieving parallel processing that dramatically reduces computation time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical dimension to the sequence matching problem by using different wavelengths of light to represent different query symbols. This allows multiple queries to be processed simultaneously in parallel through the same waveguide system, transforming a sequential computational problem into a parallel optical process.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional computational methods are used to sequence or locate sample strings, then complete analysis can be performed, but power consumption and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes energy-intensive electronic computation with optical processing that consumes significantly less power. The waveguide-based optical system uses passive light propagation and minimal active components, reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to perform complete sequence analysis through detection of optical signals.
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
This approach significantly decreases the processing time for identifying relative locations of query symbols, enhancing computing efficiency and reducing power consumption and costs compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide including a plurality of optical interaction portions, each optical interaction portion representing a different reference symbol in the sequence of reference symbols
Implementation Method 2
Each optical interaction portion is configured to optically interact with input photons of a predetermined wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes at least one waveguide with optical interaction portions that represent a sequence of reference symbols based on the order of the optical interaction portions in the at least one waveguide. At least one light source sends photons of one or more predetermined wavelengths into the at least one waveguide representing a string of query symbols. A detector detects photons received from the at least one waveguide that result from optical interactions between photons sent into the at least one waveguide and one or more corresponding optical interaction portions with an interaction between photons and an optical interaction portion indicating a match between a query symbol and a reference symbol. An analyzer determines one or more respective relative locations of the one or more corresponding optical interaction portions indicating one or more relative locations of the string of query symbols in the reference sequence.