THREE-DIMENSIONAL OPTICAL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

摘要

PURPOSE:To contrive accomplishment of a parallel optical logic operation system by a method wherein the image memory layer, which is twodimentionally arranged using an optical bistable element as a picture element, and an optical gate layer with which the quantity of transmission of light can be changed are laminated. CONSTITUTION:A multilayer structure, containing an image storage layer 12 and an optical gate layer 13 with which the quantity of transmitted light can be changed, is laminated on an InP semiconductor substrate 11. The image storage layer 12 contains an optical bistable element 14 as a picture element. The fundamental function of this three dimentional optical integrated circuit is to obtain output image information 16 by processing an input image information 15. At this point, the image information is transmitted through a multilayer structure in vertical direction, and the clock signal with which the above-mentioned transmission of the image information will be controlled is electrically given to each layer. It is necessary that the clock signal is given to each layer independently, but talking into consideration of the fact that said signal can be used common within the same layer, a pad region 17 with which each layer will be electrically connected is provided at the end part the semiconductor substrate 11. As a result, a parallel optical logic operational system, containing an image delay flip-flop and a feed-back sistem, can be accomplished using a chip.