Superconducting neural network computer and sensor array

• US 4,943,556 A
• Filed: 09/30/1988
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Szu, Harold H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baker, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US07/252,486
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 364/807, 364/600, 364/601, 364/602, 364/604, 364/513, 364/822, 364/800, 365/49, 365/160, 382/15, 350/1.1, 350/3.7, 505/835.1, 505/700, 505/829
• US Class Current: 505/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/0675 using electro-optical, acousto-optical or opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/78 using opto-electronic devices, i.e. light-emitting and photoelectric devices electrically- or optically-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/92 by the use, as active elements, of superconductive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 60/124 comprising high-Tc ceramic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 60/84 Switching means for devices switchable between superconducting and normal states
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/70 High TC, above 30 k, superconducting device, article, or structured stock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/829 Electrical computer or data processing system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/835 Content addressed, i.e. associative memory type

Abstract

A combination of optical interconnect technology with superconducting matal to form a superconducting neural network array. Superconducting material in a matrix has the superconducting current decreased in one filament of the matrix by interaction of the Cooper pairs with radiation controlled by a spatial light modulator. This decrease in current results in a switch of current, in a relative sense, to another filament in the matrix. This "switching" mechanism can be used in a digital or analog fashion in a superconducting computer application.

Claims

1. A parallel processing computer apparatus formed by an array of triodes comprising:

a first group of N parallel filaments of a opto-electric light sensitive material, where N is an integer from 1 to 10,000, wherein each filament carries a current flow;

a second group of M parallel filaments of a opto-electric light sensitive material, where M is an integer from 1 to 10,000, wherein each filament carries a current flow and is positioned perpendicular to and under a filament from the first group of filaments, in physical but not electric contact with the filaments from the said first group of filaments, collectively forming an array of M×

N triodes at filament crossing nodes;

a light-supplying control means above the array for focusing particular intensities of light in a fixed pattern to points perpendicular to the filaments of the first group of parallel filaments just beyond the individual nodes such that the light impinges only on filaments of the first group of parallel filaments and not on the second group of parallel filaments;

a means of receiving output signals from one group of filaments and feeding the signals into the light-supplying control means to adjust the pattern of the light, thereby providing iterative convergence toward a solution matrix based on the initialization and the input.

2. A parallel processing computer apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the opto-electric light sensitive material is superconducting material in granular crystalline form of a mean lattice spacing of about a quarter wavelength.

3. A parallel processing computer apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the light-supplying control means comprises a light source and a means for directing and controlling the light.

4. A parallel processing computer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the light-supplying control means comprises a laser and a spatial light modulator through which radiation from the laser is directed and controlled.

5. A parallel processing computer apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the superconducting material is fine-grained YBa₂ Cu₃ O₇.

6. An imaging system apparatus comprising:

a first group of N parallel filaments of a superconductive material, where N is an integer from 1 to 10,000, wherein each filament carries a base current;

a second group of M parallel filaments of a superconductive material, where M is an integer from 1 to 10,000, wherein each filament carries a base current and is positioned perpendicular to and under one filament from the first group of filaments, collectively forming an array of M×

N super-triodes at filament crossing nodes;

a light controlling means for directing light from an image to a point on the first group of filaments just beyond the point where the second filament crosses the first filament,

a means for receiving output signals from each node of the first group of filaments.

7. An imaging system apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the light controlling means is a parabolic mirror which focuses the light on an infrared lens.