Development of a database filter based on optoelectronic smart pixel arrays

We presented here the design and initial demonstration of three optoelectronic database filters. Each of these systems is intended to serve as an interface between a page oriented optical storage devices and an electronic host computer. In addition to providing optical/electrical data conversion, each filter is capable of reducing the high data rate optical input to low data rate electronic signals compatible with conventional database management systems. For each filter, the system objectives and associated design trade offs are presented. Finally, an overall trend towards increasing pixel logic complexity while reducing optical system complexity is discussed.