Optoelectronic computing systems

1. A system comprising:

a memory unit;

an optical processor comprising passive diffractive optical elements, in which the passive diffractive optical elements are configured to transform an optical input vector or matrix to an optical output vector or matrix that represents a result of a matrix processing applied to the optical input vector or matrix and a predetermined vector defined by an arrangement of the diffractive optical elements.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the optical processor comprises an optical matrix processing unit that comprises:

an array of input waveguides to receive the optical input vector,

an optical interference unit comprising the passive diffractive optical elements, in which the optical interference unit is in optical communication with the array of input waveguides and configured to perform a linear transformation of the optical input vector into a second array of optical signals; and

an array of output waveguides, in optical communication with the optical interference unit, to guide the second array of optical signals, wherein at least one input waveguide in the array of input waveguides is in optical communication with each output waveguide in the array of output waveguides via the optical interference unit.

3. The system of claim 2 in which the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements that are arranged in a two-dimensional configuration, and the substrate comprises at least one of a planar substrate or a curved substrate.

4. The system of claim 3 in which the substrate comprises a planar substrate that is parallel to a direction of light propagation from the array of input waveguides to the array of output waveguides.

5. The system of claim 2 in which the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having at least one of holes or stripes, the holes have dimensions in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm, and the widths of the stripes are in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm.

6. The system of claim 2 in which the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements, and the substrate comprises at least one of silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, quartz, lithium niobate, a phase-change material, or a polymer.

7. The system of claim 2 in which the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements, and the substrate comprises at least one of a glass substrate or an acrylic substrate.

8. The system of claim 1 in which the optical processor comprises an optical matrix processing unit that comprises:

a matrix of input waveguides to receive the optical input matrix,

an optical interference unit comprising the passive diffractive optical elements, in which the optical interference unit is in optical communication with the matrix of input waveguides and configured to perform a linear transformation of the optical input matrix into a second matrix of optical signals; and

a matrix of output waveguides, in optical communication with the optical interference unit, to guide the second matrix of optical signals, wherein at least one input waveguide in the matrix of input waveguides is in optical communication with each output waveguide in the matrix of output waveguides via the optical interference unit.

9. The system of claim 8 in which the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements that are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration.

10. The system of claim 9 in which the substrate has the shape of at least one of a cube, a column, a prism, or an irregular volume.

11. The system of claim 8 in which the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having at least one of holes or stripes, the holes have dimensions in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm, and the widths of the stripes are in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm.

12. The system of claim 8 in which the optical processor comprises an optical interference unit that includes a hologram that has the passive diffractive optical elements, the optical processor is configured to receive modulated light representing the optical input matrix and continuously transform the light as the light passes through the hologram until the light emerges from the hologram as the optical output matrix.

13. The system of claim 1 in which the optical processor comprises:

a light source configured to generate a plurality of light outputs,

a plurality of optical modulators coupled to the light source and configured to generate the optical input vector by modulating the plurality of light outputs generated by the light source based on a plurality of modulator control signals,

an optical matrix processing unit coupled to the plurality of optical modulators, the optical matrix processing unit comprising passive diffractive optical elements that are configured to transform the optical input vector into an optical output vector based on a plurality of weights defined by the passive diffractive optical elements; and

a photodetection unit coupled to the optical matrix processing unit and configured to generate a plurality of output electric signals corresponding to the optical output vector.

14. The system of claim 13 in which the passive diffractive optical elements are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration, the plurality of optical modulators comprise a two-dimensional array of optical modulators, and the photodetection unit comprises a two-dimensional array of photodetectors.

15. The system of claim 13 in which the optical matrix processing unit comprises a housing module to support and protect the array of input waveguides, the optical interference unit, and the array of output waveguides, and

the optical processor comprises a receiving module configured to receive the optical matrix processing unit, the receiving module comprising a first interface to enable the optical matrix processing unit to receive the optical input vector from the plurality of optical modulators, and a second interface to enable the optical matrix processing unit to transmit the optical output vector to the photodetection unit.

16. The system of claim 13 in which the plurality of output electric signals comprise at least one of a plurality of voltage signals or a plurality of current signals.

17. The system of claim 13 , comprising:

a memory unit;

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) unit configured to generate the plurality of modulator control signals;

an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) unit coupled to the photodetection unit and configured to convert the plurality of output electric signals into a plurality of digitized outputs;

a controller comprising integrated circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a computer, an artificial neural network computation request comprising an input dataset, in which the input dataset comprises a first digital input vector;

storing, in the memory unit, the input dataset; and

generating, through the DAC unit, a first plurality of modulator control signals based on the first digital input vector.

18. The system of claim 1 in which the matrix processing comprises a matrix multiplication between the optical input vector or matrix and the predetermined vector defined by the arrangement of the diffractive optical elements.

19. The system of claim 1 in which the passive diffractive optical elements are partly formed by dopants.

20. The system of claim 1 in which the matrix processing represents processing of input data represented by the optical input vector by a neural network.

21. A system comprising:

an optical processor comprising passive diffractive optical elements, wherein the passive diffractive optical elements are configured to transform an optical input vector or matrix to an optical output vector or matrix that represents a result of a matrix processing applied to the optical input vector or matrix and a predetermined vector defined by an arrangement of the diffractive optical elements;

wherein the optical processor comprises an optical matrix processing unit that comprises:

at least one of an array or matrix of input waveguides to receive the optical input vector or matrix,

an optical interference unit comprising the passive diffractive optical elements, wherein the optical interference unit is in optical communication with the array or matrix of input waveguides and configured to perform a linear transformation of the optical input vector or matrix into a second array or matrix of optical signals; and

an array or matrix of output waveguides, in optical communication with the optical interference unit, to guide the second array or matrix of optical signals, wherein at least one input waveguide in the array or matrix of input waveguides is in optical communication with each output waveguide in the array or matrix of output waveguides via the optical interference unit.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical matrix processing unit comprises the matrix of input waveguides to receive the optical input matrix,

wherein the optical interference unit is in optical communication with the matrix of input waveguides and configured to perform a linear transformation of the optical input matrix into a second matrix of optical signals, and

wherein the optical matrix processing unit comprises the matrix of output waveguides, in optical communication with the optical interference unit, to guide the second matrix of optical signals, wherein at least one input waveguide in the matrix of input waveguides is in optical communication with each output waveguide in the matrix of output waveguides via the optical interference unit.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements that are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the substrate has the shape of at least one of a cube, a column, a prism, or an irregular volume.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having at least one of holes or stripes, the holes have dimensions in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm, and the widths of the stripes are in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the optical processor comprises an optical interference unit that includes a hologram that has the passive diffractive optical elements, the optical processor is configured to receive modulated light representing the optical input matrix and continuously transform the light as the light passes through the hologram until the light emerges from the hologram as the optical output matrix.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements that are arranged in a two-dimensional configuration, and the substrate comprises at least one of a planar substrate or a curved substrate.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the substrate comprises a planar substrate that is parallel to a direction of light propagation from the array of input waveguides to the array of output waveguides.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical processor comprises:

a light source configured to generate a plurality of light outputs,

a plurality of optical modulators coupled to the light source and configured to generate the optical input vector or matrix by modulating the plurality of light outputs generated by the light source based on a plurality of modulator control signals,

an optical matrix processing unit coupled to the plurality of optical modulators, the optical matrix processing unit comprising passive diffractive optical elements that are configured to transform the optical input vector or matrix into an optical output vector or matrix based on a plurality of weights defined by the passive diffractive optical elements; and

a photodetection unit coupled to the optical matrix processing unit and configured to generate a plurality of output electric signals corresponding to the optical output vector or matrix.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the passive diffractive optical elements are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration, the plurality of optical modulators comprise a two-dimensional array of optical modulators, and the photodetection unit comprises a two-dimensional array of photodetectors.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the optical matrix processing unit comprises a housing module to support and protect the array or matrix of input waveguides, the optical interference unit, and the array or matrix of output waveguides, and

the optical processor comprises a receiving module configured to receive the optical matrix processing unit, the receiving module comprising a first interface to enable the optical matrix processing unit to receive the optical input vector or matrix from the plurality of optical modulators, and a second interface to enable the optical matrix processing unit to transmit the optical output vector or matrix to the photodetection unit.

32. The system of claim 29 in which the plurality of output electric signals comprise at least one of a plurality of voltage signals or a plurality of current signals.

33. The system of claim 29 , comprising:

a memory unit;

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) unit configured to generate the plurality of modulator control signals;

an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) unit coupled to the photodetection unit and configured to convert the plurality of output electric signals into a plurality of digitized outputs;

a controller comprising integrated circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a computer, an artificial neural network computation request comprising an input dataset, wherein the input dataset comprises a first digital input vector or matrix;

storing, in the memory unit, the input dataset; and

generating, through the DAC unit, a first plurality of modulator control signals based on the first digital input vector or matrix.

34. The system of claim 21 wherein the matrix processing comprises a matrix multiplication between the optical input vector or matrix and the predetermined vector defined by the arrangement of the diffractive optical elements.

35. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical matrix processing unit comprises the array of input waveguides to receive the optical input vector,

wherein the optical interference unit is in optical communication with the array of input waveguides and configured to perform a linear transformation of the optical input vector into a second array of optical signals, and

wherein the optical matrix processing unit comprises the array of output waveguides, in optical communication with the optical interference unit, to guide the second array of optical signals, wherein at least one input waveguide in the array of input waveguides is in optical communication with each output waveguide in the array of output waveguides via the optical interference unit.

36. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having at least one of holes or stripes, the holes have dimensions in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm, and the widths of the stripes are in a range from 100 nm to 10 μm.

37. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements, and the substrate comprises at least one of silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, quartz, lithium niobate, a phase-change material, or a polymer.

38. The system of claim 21 wherein the optical interference unit comprises a substrate having the passive diffractive optical elements, and the substrate comprises at least one of a glass substrate or an acrylic substrate.

39. The system of claim 21 wherein the passive diffractive optical elements are partly formed by dopants.

40. The system of claim 21 wherein the matrix processing represents processing of input data represented by the optical input vector or the input matrix by a neural network.

41. A system, comprising:

a memory unit;

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) unit configured to generate a plurality of modulator control signals;

an optical processor comprising:

a light source configured to generate a plurality of light outputs;

a plurality of optical modulators coupled to the light source and the DAC unit, the plurality of optical modulators being configured to generate an optical input vector by modulating the plurality of light outputs generated by the light source based on the plurality of modulator control signals;

an optical matrix processing unit coupled to the plurality of optical modulators, the optical matrix processing unit comprising passive diffractive optical elements that are configured to transform the optical input vector into an optical output vector based on a plurality of weights defined by the passive diffractive optical elements; and

a photodetection unit coupled to the optical matrix processing unit and configured to generate a plurality of output electric signals corresponding to the optical output vector;

an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) unit coupled to the photodetection unit and configured to convert the plurality of output electric signals into a plurality of digitized optical outputs;

a controller comprising integrated circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a computer, an artificial neural network computation request comprising an input dataset, wherein the input dataset comprises a first digital input vector;

storing, in the memory unit, the input dataset; and

generating, through the DAC unit, a first plurality of modulator control signals based on the first digital input vector.

42. The system of claim 41 , wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining, from the ADC unit, a first plurality of digitized optical outputs corresponding to the optical output vector of the optical matrix processing unit, the first plurality of digitized optical outputs forming a first digital output vector;

performing a nonlinear transformation on the first digital output vector to generate a first transformed digital output vector; and

storing, in the memory unit, the first transformed digital output vector.

43. The system of claim 42 , wherein the system has a first loop period defined as a time elapsed between the step of storing, in the memory unit, the input dataset, and the step of storing, in the memory unit, the first transformed digital output vector, and

wherein the first loop period is less than or equal to 1 ns.

44. The system of claim 42 , wherein the input dataset further comprises a second digital input vector, and wherein the operations further comprise:

generating, through the DAC unit, a second plurality of modulator control signals based on the second digital input vector;

obtaining, from the ADC unit, a second plurality of digitized optical outputs corresponding to the optical output vector of the optical matrix processing unit, the second plurality of digitized optical outputs forming a second digital output vector;

performing a nonlinear transformation on the second digital output vector to generate a second transformed digital output vector;

storing, in the memory unit, the second transformed digital output vector; and

outputting an artificial neural network output generated based on the first transformed digital output vector and the second transformed digital output vector,

wherein the optical output vector of the optical matrix processing unit results from a second optical input vector generated based on the second plurality of modulator control signals that is transformed by the optical matrix processing unit based on the plurality of weights defined by the passive diffractive optical elements.

45. The system of claim 41 in which the matrix processing unit comprises passive diffractive optical elements that are configured to transform the optical input vector into an optical output vector that represents a product of a matrix multiplication between the digital input vector and a predetermined vector defined by the passive diffractive optical elements.

46. The system of claim 41 , further comprising:

an analog nonlinearity unit arranged between the photodetection unit and the ADC unit, the analog nonlinearity unit being configured to receive the plurality of output electric signals from the photodetection unit, apply a nonlinear transfer function, and output a plurality of transformed output electric signals to the ADC unit,

wherein the operations further comprise:

obtaining, from the ADC unit, a first plurality of transformed digitized output electric signals corresponding to the plurality of transformed output electric signals, the first plurality of transformed digitized output electric signals forming a first transformed digital output vector; and

storing, in the memory unit, the first transformed digital output vector.

47. The system of claim 41 , wherein the integrated circuitry of the controller is configured to generate the first plurality of modulator control signals at a rate greater than or equal to 8 GHz.

48. The system of claim 41 , further comprising:

an analog memory unit arranged between the DAC unit and the plurality of optical modulators, the analog memory unit being configured to store analog voltages and to output the stored analog voltages; and

an analog nonlinearity unit arranged between the photodetection unit and the ADC unit, the analog nonlinearity unit being configured to receive the plurality of output electric signals from the photodetection unit, apply a nonlinear transfer function, and output a plurality of transformed output electric signals.

49. The system of claim 41 , wherein the input dataset of the artificial neural network computation request comprises a plurality of digital input vectors,

wherein the light source is configured to generate a plurality of wavelengths,

wherein the plurality of optical modulators comprise:

banks of optical modulators configured to generate a plurality of optical input vectors, each of the banks corresponding to one of the plurality of wavelengths and generating a respective optical input vector having a respective wavelength; and

an optical multiplexer configured to combine the plurality of optical input vectors into a combined optical input vector comprising the plurality of wavelengths,

wherein the photodetection unit is further configured to demultiplex the plurality of wavelengths and to generate a plurality of demultiplexed output electric signals, and

wherein the operations comprise:

obtaining, from the ADC unit, a plurality of digitized demultiplexed optical outputs, the plurality of digitized demultiplexed optical outputs forming a plurality of first digital output vectors, wherein each of the plurality of first digital output vectors corresponds to one of the plurality of wavelengths;

performing a nonlinear transformation on each of the plurality of first digital output vectors to generate a plurality of transformed first digital output vectors; and

storing, in the memory unit, the plurality of transformed first digital output vectors,

wherein each of the plurality of digital input vectors corresponds to one of the plurality of optical input vectors.

50. The system of claim 41 , wherein the DAC unit comprises:

a 1-bit DAC unit configured to generate a plurality of 1-bit modulator control signals,

wherein a resolution of the ADC unit is 1 bit,

wherein a resolution of the first digital input vector is N bits, and

wherein the operations comprise:

decomposing the first digital input vector into N 1-bit input vectors, each of the N 1-bit input vectors corresponding to one of the N bits of the first digital input vector;

generating, through the 1-bit DAC unit, a sequence of N 1-bit modulator control signals corresponding to the N 1-bit input vectors;

obtaining, from the ADC unit, a sequence of N digitized 1-bit optical outputs corresponding to the sequence of the N 1-bit modulator control signals;

constructing an N-bit digital output vector from the sequence of the N digitized 1-bit optical outputs;

performing a nonlinear transformation on the constructed N-bit digital output vector to generate a transformed N-bit digital output vector; and

storing, in the memory unit, the transformed N-bit digital output vector.