Photonic content-addressable memory and applications thereof

Abstract

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.