OPTICAL LOGIC UNIT Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: optical logic unit solves problem of computation of all sixteen logic Boolean functions by optical methods. It has optical registers 1 and 9 to enter operands into unit. First and second optically controlled light switches 12 and 20 are intended for inversion of information presented by light beams. First and second polarization controllers are designed to impart equal orientation to polarization planes of light beams. Operational units 4,5,14,15, from first to fourth ones, are aimed to create controlling optical signals. Control unit 22 ensures operation of unit. Light combiners 7,17,18, controlled light switches 6,20, optical coupling units 10,11 and radiation units 2, 16 provide for formation of controlling optical signals. EFFECT: increased reliability and speed of action of logical processing. 2 dwg