Digital optical cellular image processor (DOCIP): experimental implementation.

We demonstrate experimentally the concept of the digital optical cellular image processor architecture by implementing one processing element of a prototype optical computer that includes a 54-gate processor, an instruction decoder, and electronic input–output interfaces. The processor consists of a two-dimensional (2-D) array of 54 optical logic gates implemented by use of a liquid-crystal light valve and a 2-D array of 53 subholograms to provide interconnections between gates. The interconnection hologram is fabricated by a computer-controlled optical system.