Optoelectronic parallel computing using optically interconnected pipelined processing arrays

We describe our research on optoelectronic parallel computing systems. Our architecture is based on a multilayer pipeline of two-dimensional optoelectronic device arrays in which each pixel is composed of an optical input channel, a general purpose programmable processor, local memory, and a surface-emitting laser diode as an optical output channel. Free-space optics provides parallel, global communication between layers in the pipeline via optical paths which are dynamically reconfigurable. Demonstration systems and some applications are described.