Optical engagement array multiplication

摘要

Method and apparatus provide a series of optical analog intensities that are approximately proportional respectively to the components of a third array that is the product of a first array of components multiplied by a second array of components in a predetermined order. A laser (127) and collimating lens (128) (FIG. 5) direct input light (111) to a first set of electrooptic modulator (118) each of whose output light intensity varies with an electrical signal applied to it serially by electronic circuitry (129) (FIG. 12) for each respective component of the first array. A waveguide (130) directs output light from each first modulator (118) to a respective second electrooptic modulator (123), similar to the first, and similarly controlled by electronic circuitry (131) for the second array. The intensity of the output light from each second modulator (123) is responsive to the product of its two respective components. An imaging lens (132) directs the output light (115) from each second modulator (123) to a respective detector in the set ( 133), providing an electrical signal responsive to the product of its two components.