OPTICALLY ADDRESSED GENERAL PURPOSE PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICE

An array of pairs of photodetector elements is provided, where each pair intercepts a set of angularly separated light beams for each pixel, and an array of electrical logic circuits coupled to the photodetector elements, each change the polarization state of liquid crystal pixel SLM portions adjacent thereto, depending upon the intensity and presence of the light beams in each set of light beams. Thus, various Boolean logic functions may be performed at very high speeds without the need for numerous input and output electrical data transmission connections to and from the processor board supporting the SLM. This operation is facilitated by an array of microlenses affixed to the SLM for maintaining the separation of the write beams and readout beam of each set of light beams for each pixel.