Abstract

Promising models for early vision have been developed based on (1) diffusive behavior of a unipolar activation quantity within a layer of neuromorphs, and (2) center-surround interactions among these layers.¹ These two types of in teraction can map neatly into an optoelectronic paradigm: A neural layer can be realized as a silicon/liquid-crystal device² carrying a two-dimensional array of elements with optical inputs and outputs. Diffusive intralayer interactions are implemented by means of horizontal resistive networks, as demonstrated by Mead.³ Center-surround receptive interactions correspond in the paradigm to space-invariant holographic optical interconnections between successive layers. Optical implementation of all except near-neighbor interactions enables a high density of electronic neural elements to be achieved. We discuss the optoelectronic implementation of functions similar to the neural analog diffusion-enhancement layer of Siebert and Waxman,¹ and we treat the issues of circuit design, light modulator implementation, optical system design, cascading of devices, and elementary applications.

© 1990 Optical Society of America