Patent attributes
Improved optical vector matrix multipliers are disclosed. The multipliers comprise: a plurality of light sources, each operable to radiate light of intensity ui; fan-out optics arranged to expand the light radiated by the light sources in one dimension; a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of light modulating zones, each zone receiving light from one of the light sources and being operable to modulate the intensity of said received light by a factor of vij; and fan-in optics arranged to focus the modulated light onto a plurality of light detectors. The fan out optics, spatial light modulator, and fan-in optics are arranged such that an intensity of light proportional to