Neural network associative memory has found wide applications in pattern recognition techniques. We propose an associative memory model for binary character recognition. The interconnection strengths of the memory are binary valued. The concept of sparse coding is used to enhance the storage efficiency of the model. The question of imposed preconditioning of pattern vectors, which is inherent in a sparsely coded conventional memory, is eliminated by using a multistep correlation technique and the ability of correct association is enhanced in a real-time application. A potential optoelectronic implementation of the proposed associative memory is also described. The learning and recall is possible by using digital optical matrix-vector multiplication, where full use of parallelism and connectivity of optics is made. A hologram is used in the experiment as a longterm memory (LTM) for storing all input information. The short-term memory or the interconnection weight matrix required during the recall process is configured by retrieving the necessary information from the holographic LTM. # 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. S0091-3286 (98) 02003-0 Subject terms: associative memory; binary interconnection; sparse coding; holography; character recognition. Paper ART-143 received June 7, 1997; revised manuscript received Sep. 10, 1997; accepted for publication Sep. 11, 1997.
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