ANALOG INTEGRATOR INCORPORATING OPTO-ISOLATORS
An apparatus for analog numerical integration having multiple opto-isolators each with an additional level of signal modulation. The opto-isolators are connected in series or in parallel, so as to sum up output signals from all connected opto-isolators. Each opto-isolator has a light emitter, at least one light guide, a light recorder optically connected to the light emitter via the light guide, and an optical signal modulator optically connected to the light emitter, the light guide or the light recorder. The optical signal modulator modulates an optical signal within each opto-isolator.
1 . An opto-isolator comprising:
a light emitter;
at least one light guide;
a light recorder optically connected to said light emitter via said light guide; and
an optical signal modulator optically connected to at least one of said light emitter, said light guide and said light recorder, said optical signal modulator being configured to modulate an optical signal within said opto-isolator.
2 . The opto-isolator according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory device connected to said optical signal modulator, said memory device being configured to record a level of modulation of said optical signal.
3 . The opto-isolator according to claim 1 , wherein when said optical signal modulator is optically connected to said light emitter, said optical signal modulator is configured to modulate brightness of said light emitter.
4 . The opto-isolator according to claim 1 , wherein when said optical signal modulator is optically connected to said light guide, said optical signal modulator is configured to modulate a luminous flux within said light guide.
5 . The opto-isolator according to claim 1 , wherein when said optical signal modulator is optically connected to said light recorder, said optical signal modulator is configured to modulate an optical output signal of said light recorder.
6 . The opto-isolator according to claim 1 , wherein said light recorder is configured to convert a weighted optical signal into an electrical signal.
7 . An apparatus for analog numerical integration comprising:
a plurality of opto-isolators, each opto-isolator having a light emitter, at least one light guide,
a light recorder optically connected to said light emitter via said light guide, and an optical signal modulator optically connected to at least one of said light emitter, said light guide and said light recorder, said optical signal modulator being configured to modulate an optical signal within said opto-isolator,
wherein said opto-isolators are connected in series or in parallel, so as to sum up output signals from all connected opto-isolators.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of said light recorders of said opto-isolators is configured to convert a weighted optical signal into an electrical signal.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , said apparatus being configured to perform an integration function by summing up voltages generated by said opto-isolators connected in series.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , said apparatus being configured to perform an integration function by summing up currents generated by said opto-isolators connected in parallel.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said opto-isolators are resistive opto-isolators, and wherein said apparatus is configured to perform an integration function by measuring a total electrical resistance of said resistive opto-isolators connected in series.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said opto-isolators are capacitive opto-isolators, and wherein said apparatus is configured to perform an integration function by summing up capacitances of said capacitive opto-isolators connected in parallel.