Tannersfriend: But please have a look again. This here is so basic IP. It is the fundamental operations of computing, using thyristors instead of transistors.
It is like patenting the wheel! It will be realy very, very difficult to go around

This is indeed pretty exciting! These patents are the foundation for optical computing or even optical and electrical computing combined. The gates can have various embodiments:

• electrical signals in, electrical signal out (this is what we can do in silicon since decades)
• electrical signals in, optical signal out
• optical signals in, electrical signal out
• optical signals in, optical signal out

Neat! Optical computing won't be something for near-term profits or get rich quick, but this could open up a tremendously broad range of applications and could be a solid foundation for growth over the coming years and perhaps decades.