Image enhanced optical correlator system
First Claim
1. An image enhanced optical correlation system comprising:
- a. optical means for forming an input image beam which is modulated with an image of interest, and beam splitter means for splitting the image beam into first and second image beams, each having a different polarization component;
b. a spatial light modulator for each of said first and second image beams for spatially modulating a coherent laser beam with the first or second image beam;
c. a polarization rotator for at least one of the first and second image beams after it has been processed by the spatial light modulator to adjust the relative polarizations of the first and second image beams to be coplanar;
d. an optical recombiner means for recombining the first and second coplanar polarizer image beams to form a recombined beam;
e. a Fourier transform lens having the recombined beam directed thereon to a form Fourier transform image of the recombined beam;
f. a matched filter having the Fourier transform output of said lens directed thereon;
g. an inverse transform lens having the output of said matched filter incident thereon; and
h. a photodetector means for detecting the output of said inverse transform lens in the correlation output plane of the optical correlator.
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Abstract
An image enhanced optical correlator system providing for optical preprocessing of an input image prior to processing thereof in an optical correlator. The optical preprocessing is provided to enhance the image and/or image related characteristics such that the probability of detection of prescribed targets therein in the optical correlator is increased. In the system, an input image beam is split into orthogonally polarized image inputs, processed to enhance targets therein, and then the algebraic result (addition and/or subtraction) thereof is processed through an optical correlator. Techniques are used in the feedback systems to enhance the output plane correlation signal detection by an adjustment in phase, spatial frequency filtering and/or threshold setting optimization.
79 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An image enhanced optical correlation system comprising:
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a. optical means for forming an input image beam which is modulated with an image of interest, and beam splitter means for splitting the image beam into first and second image beams, each having a different polarization component; b. a spatial light modulator for each of said first and second image beams for spatially modulating a coherent laser beam with the first or second image beam; c. a polarization rotator for at least one of the first and second image beams after it has been processed by the spatial light modulator to adjust the relative polarizations of the first and second image beams to be coplanar; d. an optical recombiner means for recombining the first and second coplanar polarizer image beams to form a recombined beam; e. a Fourier transform lens having the recombined beam directed thereon to a form Fourier transform image of the recombined beam; f. a matched filter having the Fourier transform output of said lens directed thereon; g. an inverse transform lens having the output of said matched filter incident thereon; and h. a photodetector means for detecting the output of said inverse transform lens in the correlation output plane of the optical correlator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification