Optical image analyzer using optical correlation and opto-electronic feedback

摘要

An apparatus and method for image analysis utilizing an optical-electronic hybrid device. A light source generates light through an alternating series of lenses and electronically addressable spatial light modulators to an optical correlation plane. A first modulator introduces an input image and a second modulator introduces a Fourier transformed reference image into the device. The device correlates the input image and the reference image in the optical correlation plane. The optical correlation plane feeds back information through a processor to the second modulator which varies a parameter of the reference image. The second modulator varies parameters to determine the greatest correlation between the input image and the reference image. The parameters at the point of greatest correlation are used together with the reference image to identify the input image.