High-resolution configuration of optically reconfigurable gate arrays

Abstract

Recently, optically reconfigurable gate arrays (OR-GAs) have been developed to offer numerous reconfiguration contexts with high-speed dynamic reconfiguration. Such ORGAs consist of a holographic memory, a laser array, and optically reconfigurable gate array VLSI. The storage capacity of a three-dimensional holographic memory is much higher than that of current two-dimensional memory technologies. Therefore, even Tera-gate-count circuit information can be stored on such a holographic memory. Moreover, high-speed reconfiguration can be realized by exploiting two-dimensional free optical connections between a holographic memory and a photodiode array on an optically reconfigurable gate array VLSI. Such high-speed dynamic reconfiguration can increase the gate array performance. Currently, we are trying to develop a high-density optically reconfigurable gate array VLSI. An important bottleneck is the limitation of light diffraction. This report presents a method of increasing the resolution of diffraction light for realizing a high-density optically reconfigurable gate array VLSI.