<title>Digital Optical Processing</title>

Abstract

An optical processor which performs binary arithmetic operations can combine the parallel processing capacity of optical systems with the accuracy and programmability inherent to digital processors.) Such a Digital Optical Processor (DOP) will be useful in many image processing applications as well as in solving problems which are two-dimensional in nature. A DOP must first convert the analog images into binary images via an optical A/D converter and then process these binary images through an Optical Logic Unit (OLU). The DOP must also contain optical memory devices to store intermediate results of computation and a control unit to direct the operation of all the components mentioned above. Complex digital operations can be achieved by using the OLU and optical memory repeatedly under the direction of the control unit. One such structure which requires a minimum of hardware is shown in Figure 1. In this paper we will summarize briefly the worK done at UCSD on all these components of a DOP.