17938373. PHOTONIC CONTENT-ADDRESSABLE MEMORY AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF simplified abstract (International Business Machines Corporation)

PHOTONIC CONTENT-ADDRESSABLE MEMORY AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF

Organization Name

International Business Machines Corporation

Inventor(s)

Ghazi Sarwat Syed of Zurich (CH)

Abu Sebastian of Adliswil (CH)

PHOTONIC CONTENT-ADDRESSABLE MEMORY AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17938373 titled 'PHOTONIC CONTENT-ADDRESSABLE MEMORY AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a photonic content-addressable memory (CAM) system that uses a photonic cross-bar array with programmable photonic filter devices to store and retrieve data encoded in optical signals.

• The CAM system includes a photonic cross-bar array with row and column waveguides, as well as programmable photonic filter devices that store bit values and filter out light based on programming.
• An encoder is used to encode input bit-strings into optical signals, with different bit values encoded using different pairs of optical states, and supply them to the array.
• A detector is used to identify mismatches between input bit-strings and stored bit values by detecting light in different optical states in each column waveguide.

Potential Applications

• Data storage and retrieval systems
• Optical computing systems

Problems Solved

• Efficient data storage and retrieval
• High-speed processing of large datasets

Benefits

• Faster data access compared to traditional electronic memories
• Lower power consumption due to the use of optical signals

Possible Prior Art

There may be prior art related to photonic memories and content-addressable memories, but specific examples are not provided in the abstract.

Unanswered Questions

=== How does the performance of this photonic CAM system compare to traditional electronic CAM systems in terms of speed and efficiency? Answer: The abstract does not provide a direct comparison between the performance of this photonic CAM system and traditional electronic CAM systems.

=== Are there any limitations or challenges in implementing this photonic CAM technology in practical applications? Answer: The abstract does not mention any potential limitations or challenges in implementing this photonic CAM technology in practical applications.

Original Abstract Submitted

Photonic content-addressable memories (CAMs) and applications thereof are provided. The CAM includes a photonic cross-bar array comprising a plurality of row and column waveguides, and a plurality of photonic filter devices. Each filter device is selectively programmable in first and second states representing respective stored bit values that filters out light according to the programming. An encoder for encoding a plurality of input bit-strings into optical signals such that bit values in different bit-strings are encoded using optical signals in different pairs of optical states, and to simultaneously supply the optical signals corresponding to each bit-position in the bit-strings to a respective row waveguide of the array. The CAM further comprises a detector for detecting light in any of said optical states in each column waveguide, thereby identifying any mismatch between each input bit-string and bit values stored in the filter devices coupling light to that waveguide.