US3665097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical data processing system
Assignee: SRI International Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-25
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1989-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An optical data processing system compares the content of transparencies (as, for example, in correlating, convolving, and matched filtering) by combining the light transmitted by a first transparency with light transmitted by a second transparency and cyclically offsetting in time the relative phase between the light beams with a modulator. The resultant interference pattern contains light information which includes cross-correlation and auto-correlation terms with the desired cross-correlation terms placed on a temporal frequency carrier so that they are electrically separable. The interference pattern is temporally scanned in a plane essentially perpendicular to its axis (as by an image dissector) to generate a complex electrical waveform having frequencies containing information relative to both crosscorrelation terms and auto-correlation terms. Since the crosscorrelation terms are on a temporal frequency carrier, they are separated by a filter. A transparency may also be simultaneously compared to a plurality of other transparencies by cyclically temporally offsetting each of the reference light beams a different amount with a plurality of modulators. The desired cross-correlation terms with respect to each transparency are placed on a plurality of temporal frequency carriers which enables separation of desired terms from each other and from the undesired terms by filtering. In either case, the desired crosscorrelation output from a filter may be utilized by a computer to provide the desired cross-correlation information. Alternatively, the desired cross-correlation information may be applied to cathode ray tube reproducers to form transparencies containing the desired information, and the transparencies thus formed utilized in a Fourier transform reconstruction apparatus to provide a visual display.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Macovski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/16; G06; G06E; G06E3/00; G06E3/001; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An optical data processing system for comparing the content of a first transparency with a second transparency comprising: a. means for forming a first light beam for illuminating the first transparency; b. means for forming a second light beam having substantially the same frequency spectrum as said first light beam for illuminating the second transparency; c. modulation means for cyclically temporally offsetting the phase relationship between said first and second light beams; d. means for combining light transmitted by the first and second transparencies in an interference pattern; e. scanning means for temporally scanning said interference pattern and generating in response thereto a complex electrical signal containing undesired information relative to the interference of each point of the first transparency with each other point of the first transparency and each point of the second transparency with each other point of the sEcond transparency, and containing desired information relative to the interference of each point of the first and second transparencies with all the other points of the first and second transparencies, respectively, and wherein said desired information is on a temporal frequency carrier; f. electrical circuit means responsive to said complex electrical signal for extracting said desired information; and g. display means responsive to said electrical circuit means for displaying said desired information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
An optical data processing system for comparing the content of a first transparency with a second transparency comprising: a. means for forming a first light beam for illuminating the first transparency; b. means for forming a second light beam having substantially the same frequency spectrum as said first light beam for illuminating the second transparency; c. modulation means for cyclically temporally offsetting the phase relationship between said first and second light beams; d. means for combining light transmitted by the first and second transparencies in an interference pattern; e. scanning means for temporally scanning said interference pattern and generating in response thereto a complex electrical signal containing undesired information relative to the interference of each point of the first transparency with each other point of the first transparency and each point of the second transparency with each other point of the sEcond transparency, and containing desired information relative to the interference of each point of the first and second transparencies with all the other points of the first and second transparencies, respectively, and wherein said desired information is on a temporal frequency carrier; f. electrical circuit means responsive to said complex electrical signal for extracting said desired information; and g. display means responsive to said electrical circuit means for displaying said desired information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said modulation means comprises a modulator in the path of said second beam for cyclically offsetting the light from said second beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said modulation means comprises a modulator in the path of said first beam for cyclically offsetting the light from said first beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said complex electrical signal generated by said scanning means contains a midband frequency spectrum including said undesired information, and frequency sidebands separated from said midband frequency spectrum including said desired information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 4 wherein said electrical circuit means includes filter means for passing only the said sideband frequency spectra containing the desired information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said display means includes a cathode ray tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 6 wherein said display means additionally includes a photosensitive surface for recording a display on said cathode ray tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 7 wherein said display means includes a Fourier transform reconstruction apparatus for reconstructing an image from said photosensitive surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
240 words
An optical data processing system for comparing the content of a first transparency with a plurality of additional transparencies comprising: a. means for forming a first light beam for illuminating the first transparency; b. means for forming a plurality of additional light beams having substantially the same frequency spectrum as said first light beam for illuminating the plurality of additional transparencies; c. a plurality of modulation means, one for each additional transparency, for cyclically temporally offsetting the phase relationship between said first light beam and each of said additional light beams; d. means for combining light transmitted by the first transparency and the plurality of additional transparencies in an interference pattern; e. scanning means for temporally scanning said interference pattern and generating in response thereto a complex electrical signal containing undesired information relative to the interference of each point of the first transparency with each other point of the first transparency and each point of each second transparency with the other points of the same second transparency and all the points of the other additional transparencies, and containing desired information relative to the interference of each point of the first transparency with each point of the plurality of additional transparencies, and wherein said desired information is on temporal frequency carriers; f. electrical circuit means responsive to said complex electrical signal for extracting said desired information; and g. display means responsive to said electrical circuit means for displaying said desired information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
240 words
An optical data processing system for comparing the content of a first transparency with a plurality of additional transparencies comprising: a. means for forming a first light beam for illuminating the first transparency; b. means for forming a plurality of additional light beams having substantially the same frequency spectrum as said first light beam for illuminating the plurality of additional transparencies; c. a plurality of modulation means, one for each additional transparency, for cyclically temporally offsetting the phase relationship between said first light beam and each of said additional light beams; d. means for combining light transmitted by the first transparency and the plurality of additional transparencies in an interference pattern; e. scanning means for temporally scanning said interference pattern and generating in response thereto a complex electrical signal containing undesired information relative to the interference of each point of the first transparency with each other point of the first transparency and each point of each second transparency with the other points of the same second transparency and all the points of the other additional transparencies, and containing desired information relative to the interference of each point of the first transparency with each point of the plurality of additional transparencies, and wherein said desired information is on temporal frequency carriers; f. electrical circuit means responsive to said complex electrical signal for extracting said desired information; and g. display means responsive to said electrical circuit means for displaying said desired information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said plurality of modulation means comprises a modulator in the path of each of said additional beams for cyclically offsetting the light from each of said additional beams and wherein each of said modulators operates at a temporal frequency different from all other of the said modulators.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 10 wherein said complex electrical signal generated by said scanning means contains a plurality of midband frequency spectra including said undesired information, each midband frequency spectrum having frequency sidebands including said desired information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical data processing system as defined in claim 11 wherein said electrical circuit means includes a plurality of filter means, one for each of said midband frequency spectra, for passing only the said sideband frequency spectra containing the desired information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |