Adaptive multilayer optical neural network with optical thresholding

An adaptive multilayer optical neural network with all-optical forward propagation including optical thresholding by a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) is described. It has a large number of modifiable optical interconnections that are implemented by liquid crystal television screens, and it has a modular structure enabling the cascading of layers, each layer with its own light source. Sigmoid fits to response curves of four LCLVs are evaluated and their suitability as optical thresholding functions is examined on the basis of neural network simulations.