Optical wavelet processor by holographic bipolar encoding and joint-transform correlation

Liquid crystal polarization-converting devices for edge and corner extractions of images using optical wavelet transforms

Optical properties of radially polarized light generated by liquid crystal (LC) polarization-converting devices with two LC molecular orientations (+/-180 degrees and +/-90 degrees twist modes) are measured and the applicability to optical wavelet transforms (WTs) are discussed. It is found that the radially polarized lights in both the +/-180 degrees and +/-90 degrees twist modes can be regarded as wavelets. Based on the principle of WT, feature extractions of a simple binary image are carried out by applying the LC polarization-converting device to a shadow-casting system. Unique feature extraction properties of the shadow-casting system using the LC polarization-converting device and a LC microlens array are discussed. It is experimentally confirmed that edge and corner features are successfully extracted using the LC polarization-converting device with +/-180 degrees and +/-90 degrees twist modes, respectively.

Optical processing architecture and its potential application for digital and analog radiography

In this report we introduce the fundamental architectures and the potential applications of optical processing techniques in medical imaging. Three basic optical processing architectures were investigated for digital and analog radiography. The processors consist of a module that converts either the analog or the digital radiograph into a coherent light distribution; a coherent optical processing architecture that performs various mathematical operations; a programmable digital-optical interface and other accessories. Optical frequency filters were implemented for mammographic and other clinical feature enhancement. In medical image processing, digital computers offer the advantages of programmability and flexibility. In contrast, optical processors perform parallel image processing with high speed. Optical processors also offer analog nature, compact size, and cost effectiveness. With technical advances of digital-optical interface devices, the medical image processor, in the foreseeable future, may be a hybrid device, namely, a programmable optical architecture.

Optical implementation of the continuous wavelet transform

A simple optical implementation for the one-dimensional wavelet transform (WT) is proposed. In contrast with previous WT optical implementations, the obtained WT is continuous along both axes (dilation and shift). An optical implementation to the inverse WT is proposed as well. Thus an optical continuous WT processor can be implemented.