Photonic Processor Pattern Matching Speed Power Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pattern recognition systems face challenges in processing large volumes of data at high speeds, particularly in telecommunications, where electronic systems struggle with power consumption and scalability, and may produce false alarms, limiting their effectiveness in real-time applications.
Innovation Solution
A photonic processor that maps data to memory locations using hashing functions to efficiently search for pre-defined patterns in a dictionary, allowing for high-speed pattern matching with low power consumption and scalability, while minimizing false alarms through adaptable architecture and entropy conditioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software based systems are used for pattern matching, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but processing speed becomes insufficient for high data rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic/software-based pattern matching with optical/photonic processing. The optical system uses light interference and diffraction to perform pattern recognition operations at speeds impossible for electronic systems, while maintaining the ability to search for multiple patterns simultaneously through optical parallelism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential electronic processing to parallel optical processing by utilizing the spatial dimension of light waves. Multiple patterns can be processed simultaneously in different spatial locations within the optical field, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the processing architecture
2Speed
If special purpose electronic hardware is used for high speed pattern matching, then processing speed improves, but power consumption becomes impracticable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electronic hardware with optical hardware for pattern matching operations. Optical systems using light interference and diffraction require significantly less power than electronic systems performing the same high-speed pattern recognition tasks, while achieving the required processing speeds
3Reliability
If the memory is densely populated with dictionary entries, then pattern matching completeness improves, but false alarm rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different parts of the pattern matching process. The optical system performs initial high-speed filtering for potential matches, then electronic verification is applied only to candidates that pass the optical stage. This localized application of different processing methods reduces false alarms while maintaining detection accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (100) is provided which is arranged to accept an input data stream. In some embodiments, the apparatus (100) comprises a sampler arranged to sample the input data stream to provide k samples thereof, wherein each of the samples is n bits long and a string selector arranged to select m binary strings n bits long from at least a chosen subset of all random binary strings of a predetermined length. The apparatus (100) may further comprise a logical operator arranged to perform a logical function for each of the k samples with each of the selected binary strings to provide a vector, a memory arranged to store a matrix of the vectors generated from k samples, and an address generator arranged to generate RAM address segments from the matrix. In embodiments, the apparatus (100) may comprise a processor for, for example, pattern matching; feature detection, image recognition.