Direct electronic fourier transforms of optical images

Claim 1

A device for generating an electrical signal representation of a one-dimensional optical image comprising: a substrate of a material capable of vibrating and means for vibrating the substrate at a plurality of different frequencies; a film of a material whose electrical conductance varies as a function of an optical image incident thereon and as a function of time and space varying strain waves therein, said film secured to a surface of the substrate to vibrate therewith; a pair of electrically conductive contacts disposed over a portion of the film in electrical contact therewith and spaced from each other to expose a narrow strip of film; means for projecting an optical image on the exposed film strip; a constant voltage source connected to the two contacts to establish a potential difference therebetween across the exposed film strip; and means for detecting the current between the two contacts across the film strip at a plurality of different frequencies of vibration of the substrate to derive a plurality of electrical signals each being a representation of at least one dimension of the entire optical image at a defined frequency of vibration of the substrate.

Claim 2

A device for generating an electrical signal representation of a one-dimensional optical image comprising: a substrate of a material capable of vibrating and means for vibrating the substrate at a plurality of different frequencies; a film of a material whose electrical conductance varies as a function of an optical image incident thereon and as a function of time and space varying strain waves therein, said film secured to a surface of the substrate to vibrate therewith; a pair of electrically conductive contacts disposed over a portion of the film in electrical contact therewith and spaced from each other to expose a narrow strip of film; means for projecting an optical image on the exposed film strip; a constant voltage source connected to the two contacts to establish a potential difference therebetween across the exposed film strip; and means for detecting the current between the two contacts across the film strip at a plurality of different frequencies of vibration of the substrate to derive a plurality of electrical signals each being a representation of at least one dimension of the entire optical image at a defined frequency of vibration of the substrate.

Claim 9

A device for generating an electrical signal representation of an optical image comprising: a medium comprising a film capable of undergoing time and space varying strain disturbances and having an electrical property wHich varies as a function of an optical image incident on the film and as a function of time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; means for causing the incidence of an optical image on the film; means for causing a plurality of different time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; and means for measuring said electrical property of the film at a plurality of said different strain disturbances therein to derive a plurality of electrical signals representing said optical image.

Claim 10

A device for generating an electrical signal representation of an optical image comprising: a medium comprising a film capable of undergoing time and space varying strain disturbances and having an electrical property wHich varies as a function of an optical image incident on the film and as a function of time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; means for causing the incidence of an optical image on the film; means for causing a plurality of different time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; and means for measuring said electrical property of the film at a plurality of said different strain disturbances therein to derive a plurality of electrical signals representing said optical image.

Claim 14

A device as in claima 9 wherein said electrical signals are selected components of a Fourier Transform representation of the optical image.

Claim 32

A device for generating an electrical signal representation of an optical image comprising: a substrate of a material capable of undergoing time and space varying strain disturbances and a film secured to a surface of the substrate to undergo strain disturbances therewith, said film having an electrical property which varies as a function of an optical image incident on the film and as a function of time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; means for causing the incidence of an optical image on at least a portion of the film; means for causing a plurality of different time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; and means for measuring said electrical property of the film at a plurality of said different strain disturbances in the film to derive a plurality of electrical signals representing said optical image, said measuring means comprising an interdigitated plurality of first and second electrically conductive contacts disposed over portions of the film in electrical contact therewith, with the first contacts electrically connected to each other and with the second contacts electrically connected to each other, but with the first and second contacts spaced from each other along the film.

Claim 33

A device for generating an electrical signal representation of an optical image comprising: a substrate of a material capable of undergoing time and space varying strain disturbances and a film secured to a surface of the substrate to undergo strain disturbances therewith, said film having an electrical property which varies as a function of an optical image incident on the film and as a function of time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; means for causing the incidence of an optical image on at least a portion of the film; means for causing a plurality of different time and space varying strain disturbances in the film; and means for measuring said electrical property of the film at a plurality of said different strain disturbances in the film to derive a plurality of electrical signals representing said optical image, said measuring means comprising an interdigitated plurality of first and second electrically conductive contacts disposed over portions of the film in electrical contact therewith, with the first contacts electrically connected to each other and with the second contacts electrically connected to each other, but with the first and second contacts spaced from each other along the film.

Claim 37

A device for obtaining an electrical signal representation of an optical image comprising: a substrate of a material capable of undergoing time and space varying strain disturbances and a photocathode film secured to a surface of the substrate to undergo said strain disturbances therewith; a photoelectron collector plate facing the photocathode film but spaced therefrom to collect electron current emitted from the photocathode film and means for establishing a potential difference between the photocathode film and the photoelectron collector plate; means for causing the incidence of an optical image on the photocathode film; means for causing a plurality of different time and space varying strain disturbances in the substrate and in the photocathode film; and means for measuring an electrical parameter of the current between the photocathode film and the photoelectron collector plate at a plurality oF said different strain disturbances in the photocathode film to derive a plurality of electrical signals representing the optical image.

Claim 38

A device for obtaining an electrical signal representation of an optical image comprising: a substrate of a material capable of undergoing time and space varying strain disturbances and a photocathode film secured to a surface of the substrate to undergo said strain disturbances therewith; a photoelectron collector plate facing the photocathode film but spaced therefrom to collect electron current emitted from the photocathode film and means for establishing a potential difference between the photocathode film and the photoelectron collector plate; means for causing the incidence of an optical image on the photocathode film; means for causing a plurality of different time and space varying strain disturbances in the substrate and in the photocathode film; and means for measuring an electrical parameter of the current between the photocathode film and the photoelectron collector plate at a plurality oF said different strain disturbances in the photocathode film to derive a plurality of electrical signals representing the optical image.

Claim 41

A device for reconstructing pictorial information represented by electrical signals each of which is a selected component of a Fourier Transform representation of said pictorial information comprising: a pair of substantially parallel polarizing plates disposed at an angle of approximately 90* between their respective planes of polarization; a plate of elasto-optical material disposed intermediate the polarizing plates; means for propagating through said intermediate plate strain patterns whose amplitudes and phases are governed by said electrical signals; a light source for illuminating one side of the combination of the three plates; and means for displaying the light pattern emerging from the side of the combination of the plate which is opposite the light source.

Claim 42

A device for reconstructing pictorial information represented by electrical signals each of which is a selected component of a Fourier Transform representation of said pictorial information comprising: a pair of substantially parallel polarizing plates disposed at an angle of approximately 90* between their respective planes of polarization; a plate of elasto-optical material disposed intermediate the polarizing plates; means for propagating through said intermediate plate strain patterns whose amplitudes and phases are governed by said electrical signals; a light source for illuminating one side of the combination of the three plates; and means for displaying the light pattern emerging from the side of the combination of the plate which is opposite the light source.