Method of constructing a parallel digital optical adder

A new method is proposed for constructing a parallel digital adder based on a device with a periodic operating characteristic. The data patterns of digits of two numerical arrays reach successively an adding device and form at its output a data pattern of the result in a given digit and a "latent" data pattern of carry to the next digit. The data carry pattern is then reconstructed by feedback and is added to the arriving data patterns in the next digit. The principal characteristics of such an adder and the requirements that its components must satisfy are considered.