Optical synaptic devices possess great potential in both
artificial
intelligence and neuromorphic photonics. In this work, an optically
readable electrochromic-based microfiber synaptic device was designed
by the combination of a multimode fiber and an electrochromic device
and using an external voltage to control the transmission of light
in the fiber. The proposed synaptic device has the ability to imitate
various basic functions of the biological synapses, such as synaptic
plasticity, and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), as well as the transition
from short-term memory to long-term memory. Moreover, the proposed
device decodes the output optical signal with the international Morse
code to express the signal “HFUT” in two ways, and a
3 × 3 array composed of this device can simulate the perceptual
learning process. The device can be easily prepared for a wide range
of applications, and the incorporated microfibers can be replaced
by planar optical waveguides, making it easy to be integrated into
a more complex and versatile photonic neuromorphic system.