Fast digital optical multiplication using an array of binary symmetric logic counters.

Because of the lack of fast, accurate, and large dynamic range analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), optical implementation of the digital multiplication through analog convolution (DMAC) algorithm yields a slow digital multiplier. By replacing both the optical adder and ADC arrays by an optical combinatorial logic counter array, a new optical fast digital multiplication method is proposed. Compared to the existing optical DMAC scheme, the new method promises both higher processing speed and accuracy. A comparison of this and some of the other optical and electronic fast digital multiplication schemes is also presented.