Programmable optical computing device employing LED array transducers, non-quadratic phase optical elements, and stacked light modulator elements

1. An integrated optical information processing system comprising:

an image source for providing optical image data, the image source comprising a light emitting diode (LED) array;

a first non-quadratic phase optical element having a first side and a second side, the first non-quadratic phase optical element configured to accept the optical image data from the image source at the first side and to alter the optical image according to an imaging process, and to provide a first altered optical image from the second side of the first non-quadratic phase optical element;

a plurality of light-modulating element arrays responsive to associated incoming light-modulating control signals associated with non-quadratic phase transfer functions, and adjacently stacked so that consecutive pairs of light-modulating element arrays are immediately adjacent with one another so as to form a stack with a first image passing surface at one edge of the stack and a second image passing surface at a second edge of the stack, the plurality of light-modulating element arrays arranged so that the first image passing surface receives the first altered optical image, the second image passing surface provides a second altered optical image;

a second non-quadratic phase optical element arranged to receive the second altered optical image at a first of two sides; and

an electronic image sensor facing the second of the two sides of the second non-quadratic phase optical element;

wherein the optical image is directed through the first non-quadratic optical element, producing an optical field directed through the stacked plurality of light-modulating element arrays and subsequently directed through the second non-quadratic optical element and sensed by the electronic image sensor,

the electronic image sensor to transform the second altered optical image into an electrical output.

2. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein the electronic image sensor comprises an LED array.

3. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein the optical information processing system is implemented as a monolithic integrated optical processor.

4. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein the optical information processing system is implemented as a hybrid integrated optical processor.

5. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first non-quadratic optical element and the second non-quadratic optical element comprises a lens.

6. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first non-quadratic optical element and the second non-quadratic optical element comprises graded-index material.

7. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the incoming light-modulating control signals comprises information calculated by an associated processor.

8. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the incoming light-modulating control signals comprises information stored in an associated memory.

9. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of light-modulating element arrays is implemented with a liquid crystal display.

10. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of light-modulating element arrays shifts a phase of light transmitted through it.

11. An integrated optical information processing system comprising:

an image source for providing optical image data;

a first non-quadratic phase optical element having a first side and a second side, accepting the optical image data at the first side, altering the optical image, and providing a first altered light from the second side;

a plurality of light-modulating element arrays configured in a stack and responsive to associated incoming light-modulating control signals, the stack receiving the first altered light and providing a second altered light, and wherein at least one incoming control signals is associated with non-quadratic phase transfer functions;

a second non-quadratic phase optical element arranged to receive the second altered light at a first side; and

an electronic image sensor operating as an optical observation element facing a second opposite side of the second optical element;

wherein the optical image is directed through the first non-quadratic phase optical element, producing an optical field directed through the stacked plurality of light-modulating element arrays and subsequently directed through the second optical element and sensed by the electronic image sensor, and

wherein the image sensor transforms the second altered optical image into an electrical output, and

wherein at least one of the image source and the electronic image sensor comprise a light emitting diode (LED) array.

12. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein the electronic image sensor comprises a light emitting diode (LED) array.

13. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein the optical information processing system is implemented as a monolithic integrated optical processor.

14. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein the optical information processing system is implemented as a hybrid integrated optical processor.

15. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first non-quadratic phase optical element and the second non-quadratic phase optical element comprises a lens.

16. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first non-quadratic phase optical element and the second non-quadratic phase optical element comprises graded-index material.

17. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the incoming light-modulating control signals comprises information calculated by an associated processor.

18. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the incoming light-modulating control signals comprises information stored in an associated memory.

19. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of light-modulating element arrays is implemented with a liquid crystal display.

20. The integrated optical information processing system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of light-modulating element arrays shifts a phase of light transmitted through it.