Principles of construction of a multiport associative memory from quantum-electronics components

The principles of construction are proposed, the feasibility of implementation is considered, and the main parameters are estimated of an optoelectronic multiport associative memory which allows M users to carry out simultaneously and independently a parallel associative search for keys and selection of data associated with these keys from a shared memory with the capacity of N words. Addressed writing of keys and data through M ports is also possible. The main base components of such a memory should be arrays of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, optical threshold inverters and photodetectors, and memory arrays based on hybrid memory boards with electrically controlled optical pixels, in combination with spherical free-space optics and electronic control circuits.