Inference engine for expert system by using optical array logic.

A method of implementing an inference engine for an expert system by using optical array logic is presented. Optical array logic is a technique for parallel neighborhood operations based on spatial coding and two-dimensional correlation. The processing capability of optical array logic is useful for the efficient execution of an inference operation in artificial intelligence problems. Inference proceeds with the help of a token propagation technique in which the knowledge is expressed as spatial patterns and processed collectively with parallel neighborhood operations in optical array logic. With several additional functions, an expert system can be constructed by using the inference technique.