Miaofu Cao

Real-time programmable image subtractor using a magnetooptic device

In an effort to combine the advantages of optical information processing and the flexibility of digital computers, a real-time image subtraction system has been developed. A microcomputer is employed to control a Litton magnetooptic device (MOD) and also to interface the MOD to a video camera. The performance of the system in image subtraction is discussed in detail. An experimental demonstration of image subtraction is shown.

Digital Optical Matrix Multiplication Based On A Systolic Outer-Product Method

A hybrid optical architecture for digital matrix-matrix multiplication is discussed. The proposed system requires less hardware than outer-product optical matrix multipliers and offers a higher processing speed than systolic array matrix multipliers. The throughput and hardware requirements of the proposed architecture are discussed with reference to the availability of various electro-optic devices. The performance of the proposed system is compared to existing systolic array optical matrix multipliers and to outer-product-based optical matrix processors. The accuracy and error rate of the proposed architecture are evaluated.

Microcomputer-Based Programmable Optical Signal Processor

A microcomputer-based real-time programmable optical signal processing system utilizing a magneto-optic spatial light modulator (MOSLM) and a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) is described. This system can perform a myriad of complicated optical operations, such as image correlation, image subtraction, and matrix multiplication. Its important assets are its programmability and the capability of real-time addressing. These are important for telerobotic vision in space automation applications. Design specifications and suggestions for practical implementation of the system are discussed. Some preliminary experimental demonstrations are conducted to demonstrate applications of the proposed system to image correlation for optical pattern recognition, image subtraction for IC chip inspection, and matrix multiplication for optical computing.

Application of a magnetooptic spatial light modulator to white-light optical processing

The application of a programmable magnetooptic spatial light modulator to white-light optical signal processing is presented. We have shown that the magnetooptic device responds to the polarized white light, in which a wide range of color object patterns can be generated. Since the magnetooptic device is a transmitted type spatial light modulator, it is very suitable for real-time programmable spatial filter synthesis and object pattern generation for optical signal processings. Experimental demonstrations of some of the elementary spatial filter syntheses and pseudocolor encodings are provided.

A Hybrid Optical System For Linear Transformation Processing

A microcomputer-based optical linear transformation processing system is proposed. The technique utilizes a systolic array processing method to perform various types of linear transformations, such as discrete Fourier transformation, discrete Hilbert transformation, discrete chirp-Z transformation and many others. By partially parallel addressing two magneto-optic spatial light modulators (MOSLM), this proposed system would offer high speed and parallel processing capability of optics and programmabilty of microcomputer.

Digital-Optical Matrix Multiplication With Magneto-Optic Spatial Light Modulators

A microcomputer-based digital-optical matrix multiplication technique utilizing magneto-optic spatial light modulator (MOSLM) is described. The important aspects of this technique are its programmability and real-time addressability. Experimental demonstration for a simple elementary matrix multiplication is given.

White-Light Optical Signal Processing With A Programmable Magneto-Optic Device

The application of a programmable magneto-optic spatial light modulator to white-light optical signal processing is presented. We have shown that the magneto-optic device responds to the polarized white-light, in which a wide range of color object patterns can be generated. Since the magneto-optic device is a transmitted type spatial light modulator, it is very suitable for real-time programmable spatial filter synthesis and object pattern generation for optical signal processings. Experimental demonstrations of some of the elementary spatial filter syntheses and pseudocolor encodings are provided.