Multi-optical configuration using spreading beams

Abstract

Optically reconfigurable gate arrays (ORGAs), which consist of a gate array VLSI, a holographic memory, and a laser diode array, are a type of programmable gate array that can achieve rapid reconfiguration and numerous reconfiguration contexts. The gate array of an ORGA is optically reconfigured using diffraction patterns from a holographic memory that is addressed using a laser diode array. For the laser diode array, a conventional ORGA always required collimated beams, necessitating the use of some lenses and its accurate alignment. Therefore, this paper presents the very compact and simple architecture of a multi-context ORGA that uses spreading beams of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) with no lenses. This paper describes experimental results of implementation of two configuration contexts and their reconfigurations, in addition to plans for future work.