A negabinary number based optical matrix-vector multiplier

The digital convolution technique is utilized for the realization of optica l matrix-vector multiplication. Negabinary encoding of data is used so that bipolar data can be easily handled eliminating the need of sign-bit repres entation of binary data. The multiplicand binary numbers an represented by on/off states of light sources. The multiplier numbers are converted to neg abinary number and are recorded on an electrically addressed spatial light modulator. Cylindrical optics is used as free space interconnection. The co nvolution coefficients are recorded on a CCD array. The output of the CCD a rray are added in a computer to yield the result of multiplication. The ope ration is completely digital and needs no analog to digital conversion. It has been shown that the processings speed is greatly increased by using the proposed technique.