Optical logic gates using liquid crystal light valve: implementation and application example

In this paper, we propose a new method of optically implementing digital logic gates capable of performing all logic operations and give the technique for construction of an array of n-bit parallel adders as a typical application circuit. These gates are implemented using a Hughes liquid crystal light valve operated in the parallel off-state configuration. It is found that all possible functions of two binary variables are realizable with these gates, some as bright-true-logic and some as dark-true-logic. Experimental results will be given using the portions of a single liquid crystal light valve demonstrating the feasibility of AND, NOR, XOR, etc. gate arrays. As an example of implementation of combinatorial circuits, a design for an array of binary adders will also be given.