Abstract

We have elsewhere reported high-performance electrically addressed¹ and thresholding, optically addressed spatial light modulators (SLMs) based on silicon complementary-metal-oxide-semicon ductor (CMOS) integrated circuitry that employ a ferroelectric liquid-crystal (FLC) light-modulating layer in direct contact with the silicon chip. We now report progress toward a silicon retina device similar to that of Mead² for detection of edges and motion but augmented with optical outputs for direct readout of the processed image. The higher speed of optical readout permits the silicon retina to detect motion that occurs on time scales that are short compared to the limit set by the slower electronic readout. Furthermore, the image is output in a form that is directly suitable for subsequent optical processing. We also report refinements of the electrically addressed device that are intended to approach the limits imposed by speed–power constraints, and we discuss the design issues that accompany this performance regime.

© 1990 Optical Society of America