Real-time programmable optical correlator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A real-time programmable optical correlator, comprising:
- means for providing a first beam of electromagnetic radiation and directing said beam of electromagnetic radiation along a preselected optical axis;
means located at a first preselected location along said optical axis for receiving said first beam of electromagnetic radiation, a first input signal and a second input signal and for generating images representative of said first and said second input signals;
means at a second preselected location along said optical axis for receiving said images and forming a joint Fourier transform of said images at a third preselected location along said optical axis;
means for providing a second beam of electromagnetic radiation and directing said second beam of electromagnetic radiation to said third preselected location along said optical axis;
means positioned at said third preselected location along said optical axis for receiving said joint Fourier transform of said images and said second beam of electromagnetic radiation and for generating a coherent power spectrum representative of said images;
means positioned at a fourth preselected location along said optical axis for forming an inverse Fourier transform of said coherent power spectrum of said images at a fifth preselected location along said optical axis, said inverse Fourier transform being representative of a correlation between said first and said second input signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A real-time programmable joint transform optical correlator incorporating a magneto-optic spatial light modulator and a liquid crystal light valve therein. Object functions to be correlated are input into the magneto-optic spatial light modulator by a programmable microcomputer as input signals. Real time correlation takes place at the liquid crystal light valve with a coherent read out beam. Cross correlation between the input functions (signals) are obtained through the inverse Fourier transform of the read out coherent illumination and are subsequently output from the correlator.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A real-time programmable optical correlator, comprising:
-
means for providing a first beam of electromagnetic radiation and directing said beam of electromagnetic radiation along a preselected optical axis; means located at a first preselected location along said optical axis for receiving said first beam of electromagnetic radiation, a first input signal and a second input signal and for generating images representative of said first and said second input signals; means at a second preselected location along said optical axis for receiving said images and forming a joint Fourier transform of said images at a third preselected location along said optical axis; means for providing a second beam of electromagnetic radiation and directing said second beam of electromagnetic radiation to said third preselected location along said optical axis; means positioned at said third preselected location along said optical axis for receiving said joint Fourier transform of said images and said second beam of electromagnetic radiation and for generating a coherent power spectrum representative of said images; means positioned at a fourth preselected location along said optical axis for forming an inverse Fourier transform of said coherent power spectrum of said images at a fifth preselected location along said optical axis, said inverse Fourier transform being representative of a correlation between said first and said second input signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification