Photonic in-memory co-processor for convolutional operations

A computer-implemented method for operating a co-processor for performing a matrix multiplication of an input matrix with a data matrix in one step, wherein a plurality of photonic memory elements is arranged at crossing points of an optical waveguide crossbar array, and wherein said plurality of photonic memory elements is configured to store values of said data matrix, and wherein said receiving unit is connected to input lines of said optical waveguide crossbar array, said method comprising:

• receiving input signals for said input matrix as optical signals;
• wherein a respective output signal of each of output lines of said optical waveguide crossbar array represents a dot-product between a respective column of said optical waveguide crossbar array and said received input signals;
• and
• wherein values of elements of said input matrix to be multiplied with said data matrix correspond to light intensities received at input lines of said respective photonic memory elements;
• and
• wherein different wavelength are used for each column of said input matrix optical signals, such that said input matrix is multiplied with said data matrix in one step.

A computer program product for operating a co-processor for performing a matrix multiplication of an input matrix with a data matrix in one step, wherein a plurality of photonic memory elements is arranged at crossing points of an optical waveguide crossbar array, wherein said plurality of photonic memory elements is configured to store values of said data matrix, and wherein said receiving unit is connected to input lines of said optical waveguide crossbar array;

• the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, said program instructions being executable by one or more computing systems or controllers to cause said one or more computing systems to:
• control a reception of input signals for said input matrix as optical signals, wherein a respective output signal of each of output lines of said optical waveguide crossbar array represents a dot-product between a respective column of said optical waveguide crossbar array and said received input signals;
• and
• wherein values of elements of said input matrix to be multiplied with said data matrix correspond to light intensities received at input lines of said respective photonic memory elements;
• and
• wherein different wavelength are used for each column of said input matrix optical signals, such that said input matrix is multiplied with said data matrix in one step.