Optical programmable matrix processor

A method for bit-matrix processing comprising:

• performing, using an optoelectronic bit matrix processor, at least one bit-wise Boolean operation under at least two input matrices, by:
• arranging input binary data in an operand matrix;
• arranging data from a memory in an operator matrix in an optoelectronic device;
• pre-setting a configuration of said operator matrix and dynamically loading said input binary data in said operand matrix;
• and
• performing element-wise AND operations and group-wise OR Boolean operations between said operand matrix and said operator matrix to perform said bit-wise Boolean operation.

A method for bit-matrix processing comprising:

• inputting binary input data to an optical source matrix;
• loading data from a memory onto a spatial light modulator;
• optically replicating data from said optical source matrix and projecting it onto said spatial light modulator according to a replication factor, thereby to perform bit-wise logical AND operations;
• integrating light from said spatial light modulator onto a photodiode matrix, thereby to perform group-wise logical OR operations;
• and
• processing an output signal from said photodiode matrix,
• wherein said spatial light modulator has a pre-set physical size, and said optical source matrix has a fixed size on which corresponding binary input data of variable size is mapped.

A bit-matrix processor comprising:

• an input bit-matrix serving as an operand matrix;
• an operator bit-matrix of larger or equal size than said input bit matrix;
• a replicator for replicating said input bit-matrix onto said operator bit matrix;
• hardware arranged to perform bit-wise logical AND operations between said replicated input bit-matrix and said operator bit-matrix to obtain a intermediate matrix, and to perform group-wise logical OR operations between groups of elements of said intermediate matrix after performing said bit-wise logical AND operations.