ASSOCIATIVE OPTICAL CORRELATOR FOR MEMORY UNIT Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: device has multiple-channel light source unit which inputs information in correlator as light beams, light branching unit and multiplication unit which generates copies of page with request keys, projection unit and unit which generates beams for projection of image of each request key to associative keys which are shown by transparency gate. In addition device has control unit. Controlled transparency gate is used for displaying page with associative keys; beam distribution unit separates light beams, which correspond to different associative keys as well as for separation of key beams and reference ones. Focusing unit serves for addition of optical signals, photodetector unit converts optical signals to electric ones. Device provides possibility of associative search in large database for multiple request keys by means of optical methods in different types of memory units. EFFECT: increased reliability of search, increased speed, increased information capacity, increased functional capabilities, low cost. 3 cl, 3 dwg