Abstract

The accuracy of an optical vector–matrix multiplier (OVMM) is directly related to the number of levels that can be accurately detected at the output. In an OVMM, the linear range of the input devices and detectors is divided into a number of levels that provides an acceptable error rate at the output. By using error-correcting codes it is possible to increase the number of levels at the output and still provide the same error rate. The output levels are spaced closer together, and an error-correcting code is used to reduce the error rate to an acceptable value. A higher dimension vector-matrix product is computed along with the encoding and decoding operations. Computer simulation results will be presented.

© 1992 Optical Society of America