Multiplexing optical system and feature vector transformation apparatus using the same; feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus; and recognition and classification system using these apparatuses

Claim 2

A multiplexing optical system for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on multiplexed vector information as an object to be processed, said multiplexing optical system including at least: a Fourier transform lens for performing a Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said Fourier transform lens: k.sub.R λf.sub.F /a<p where k R is a number of components of each multiplex portion of the multiplexed vector information; p is a pitch between zero-order portions of Fourier transformed information concerning adjacent multiplex portions obtained in a Fourier transform plane; a is an effective display size of each multiplex portion; λ is a wavelength of light used; and f F is a focal length of said Fourier transform lens.

Claim 3

A multiplexing optical system for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on multiplexed vector information as an object to be processed and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system including at least: a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said lens array: k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t where p t is a pitch of said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; p d is a sampling pitch of transformed information in a feature transform plane where information transformed by said optical system is obtained; and k d is a number of components of transformed information in the feature transform plane which corresponds to one multiplex portion.

Claim 4

A multiplexing optical system for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on multiplexed vector information as an object to be processed and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system including at least: a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said lens array: k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t where p t is a pitch of said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; p d is a sampling pitch of transformed information in a feature transform plane where information transformed by said optical system is obtained; and k d is a number of components of transformed information in the feature transform plane which corresponds to one multiplex portion.

Claim 5

A multiplexing optical system for multiplexing vector information as an object to be processed, and performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information, and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system comprising: object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing object vector information as an object to be processed by placing the object vector information on parallel beams of light traveling in various directions; multiple Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a large-aperture lens for performing a Fourier transform on the multiplexed object vector information in parallel and simultaneously; and multiple inverse Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel and simultaneously on the object vector information Fourier transformed by said multiple Fourier transform means; wherein the following condition is satisfied: (r.sub.F -α.sub.max λf.sub.F)/f.sub.F -w.sub.T /f.sub.T ≧2h/f.sub.F where f F is a focal length of said large-aperture lens; r F is an overall effective aperture of said large-aperture lens; f T is a focal length of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; w T is a width of a light beam emanating from said lens array for inverse Fourier transform in correspondence to each multiplex region and reaching a feature transform plane; h is a distance from an optical axis extending through a center of said large-aperture lens to a center of that lens element in said lens array for inverse Fourier transform which is the farthest from the optical axis; α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as feature transform means installed in a Fourier transform plane; and λ is a wavelength of light used.

Claim 6

A multiplexing optical system for multiplexing vector information as an object to be processed, and performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information, and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system comprising: object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing object vector information as an object to be processed by placing the object vector information on parallel beams of light traveling in various directions; multiple Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a large-aperture lens for performing a Fourier transform on the multiplexed object vector information in parallel and simultaneously; and multiple inverse Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel and simultaneously on the object vector information Fourier transformed by said multiple Fourier transform means; wherein the following condition is satisfied: (r.sub.F -α.sub.max λf.sub.F)/f.sub.F -w.sub.T /f.sub.T ≧2h/f.sub.F where f F is a focal length of said large-aperture lens; r F is an overall effective aperture of said large-aperture lens; f T is a focal length of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; w T is a width of a light beam emanating from said lens array for inverse Fourier transform in correspondence to each multiplex region and reaching a feature transform plane; h is a distance from an optical axis extending through a center of said large-aperture lens to a center of that lens element in said lens array for inverse Fourier transform which is the farthest from the optical axis; α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as feature transform means installed in a Fourier transform plane; and λ is a wavelength of light used.

Claim 7

A multiplexing optical system according to claim 1, wherein the following condition is satisfied: p≧r.sub.F ≧a+2α.sub.max λf.sub.F where r F is an effective aperture of said Fourier transform lens, and α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as feature transform means installed in a Fourier transform plane.

Claim 8

A multiplexing optical system according to claim 2, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 0.25 millimeter≦k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t.

Claim 9

A multiplexing optical system according to claim 3, wherein the following condition is satisfied: α.sub.max λf.sub.F +w.sub.T /2≦r.sub.T /2 where r T is an effective aperture of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform.

Claim 10

A multiplexing optical system according to claim 3, wherein the following condition is satisfied: w.sub.T ≧0.25 millimeter.

Claim 11

In a feature vector transformation apparatus comprising object vector input and display means for entering vector information into a system as an object to be processed; object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing the entered vector information; multiple Fourier transform means for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information to an extent corresponding to a multiplex level of the multiplexed vector information; multiple inverse Fourier transform means having a lens array consisting essentially of a number of lens elements which corresponds to said multiplex level for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means to an extent corresponding to said multiplex level; and feature transform means for performing feature transformation in parallel on the Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means, said feature transform means being disposed in a Fourier transform plane, thereby outputting images containing finally transformed features to a feature transform plane, the improvement wherein said multiple Fourier transform means includes a multiplexing optical system, said multiplexing optical system including a Fourier transform lens for performing a Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said Fourier transform lens: k.sub.R λf.sub.F /a<p where k R is a number of components of each multiplex portion of the multiplexed vector information; p is a pitch between zero-order portions of Fourier transformed information concerning adjacent multiplex portions obtained in the Fourier transform plane; a is an effective display size of each multiplex portion; λ is a wavelength of light used; and f F is a focal length of said Fourier transform lens.

Claim 12

In a feature vector transformation apparatus comprising object vector input and display means for entering vector information into a system as an object to be processed; object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing the entered vector information; multiple Fourier transform means for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information to an extent corresponding to a multiplex level of the multiplexed vector information; multiple inverse Fourier transform means having a lens array consisting essentially of a number of lens elements which corresponds to said multiplex level for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means to an extent corresponding to said multiplex level; and feature transform means for performing feature transformation in parallel on the Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means, said feature transform means being disposed in a Fourier transform plane, thereby outputting images containing finally transformed features to a feature transform plane, the improvement wherein said multiple Fourier transform means includes a multiplexing optical system, said multiplexing optical system including a Fourier transform lens for performing a Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said Fourier transform lens: k.sub.R λf.sub.F /a<p where k R is a number of components of each multiplex portion of the multiplexed vector information; p is a pitch between zero-order portions of Fourier transformed information concerning adjacent multiplex portions obtained in the Fourier transform plane; a is an effective display size of each multiplex portion; λ is a wavelength of light used; and f F is a focal length of said Fourier transform lens.

Claim 13

In a feature vector transformation apparatus comprising object vector input and display means for entering vector information into a system as an object to be processed; object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing the entered vector information; multiple Fourier transform means for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information to an extent corresponding to a multiplex level of the multiplexed vector information; multiple inverse Fourier transform means having a lens array consisting essentially of a number of lens elements which corresponds to said multiplex level for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means to an extent corresponding to said multiplex level; and feature transform means for performing feature transformation in parallel on the Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means, said feature transform means being disposed in a Fourier transform plane, thereby outputting images containing finally transformed features to a feature transform plane, the improvement which includes a multiplexing optical system for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on multiplexed vector information as an object to be processed and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system including at least: a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said lens array: k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t where p t is a pitch of said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; p d is a sampling pitch of transformed information in the feature transform plane where information transformed by said optical system is obtained; and k d is a number of components of transformed information in the feature transform plane which corresponds to one multiplex portion.

Claim 14

In a feature vector transformation apparatus comprising object vector input and display means for entering vector information into a system as an object to be processed; object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing the entered vector information; multiple Fourier transform means for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information to an extent corresponding to a multiplex level of the multiplexed vector information; multiple inverse Fourier transform means having a lens array consisting essentially of a number of lens elements which corresponds to said multiplex level for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means to an extent corresponding to said multiplex level; and feature transform means for performing feature transformation in parallel on the Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means, said feature transform means being disposed in a Fourier transform plane, thereby outputting images containing finally transformed features to a feature transform plane, the improvement which includes a multiplexing optical system for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on multiplexed vector information as an object to be processed and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system including at least: a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel, wherein the following condition is satisfied in an arbitrary cross-section containing an optical axis of said lens array: k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t where p t is a pitch of said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; p d is a sampling pitch of transformed information in the feature transform plane where information transformed by said optical system is obtained; and k d is a number of components of transformed information in the feature transform plane which corresponds to one multiplex portion.

Claim 15

In a feature vector transformation apparatus comprising object vector input and display means for entering vector information into a system as an object to be processed; object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing the entered vector information; multiple Fourier transform means for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information to an extent corresponding to a multiplex level of the multiplexed vector information; multiple inverse Fourier transform means having a lens array consisting essentially of a number of lens elements which corresponds to said multiplex level for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means to an extent corresponding to said multiplex level; and feature transform means for performing feature transformation in parallel on the Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means, said feature transform means being disposed in a Fourier transform plane, thereby outputting images containing finally transformed features to a feature transform plane, the improvement which includes a multiplexing optical system for multiplexing vector information as an object to be processed, and performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information, and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system comprising: object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing object vector information as an object to be processed by placing the object vector information on parallel beams of light traveling in various directions; multiple Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a large-aperture lens for performing a Fourier transform on the multiplexed object vector information in parallel and simultaneously; and multiple inverse Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel and simultaneously on the object vector information Fourier transformed by said multiple Fourier transform means; wherein the following condition is satisfied: (r.sub.F -2α.sub.max λf.sub.F)/f.sub.F -w.sub.T /f.sub.T ≧2h/f.sub.F where f F is a focal length of said large-aperture lens; r F is an overall effective aperture of said large-aperture lens; f T is a focal length of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; w T is a width of a light beam emanating from said lens array for inverse Fourier transform in correspondence to each multiplex region and reaching the feature transform plane; h is a distance from an optical axis extending through a center of said large-aperture lens to a center of that lens element in said lens array for inverse Fourier transform which is the farthest from the optical axis; α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as said feature transform means installed in the Fourier transform plane; and λ is a wavelength of light used.

Claim 16

In a feature vector transformation apparatus comprising object vector input and display means for entering vector information into a system as an object to be processed; object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing the entered vector information; multiple Fourier transform means for performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information to an extent corresponding to a multiplex level of the multiplexed vector information; multiple inverse Fourier transform means having a lens array consisting essentially of a number of lens elements which corresponds to said multiplex level for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means to an extent corresponding to said multiplex level; and feature transform means for performing feature transformation in parallel on the Fourier transformed images obtained by said multiple Fourier transform means, said feature transform means being disposed in a Fourier transform plane, thereby outputting images containing finally transformed features to a feature transform plane, the improvement which includes a multiplexing optical system for multiplexing vector information as an object to be processed, and performing a Fourier transform in parallel on the multiplexed vector information, and further performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel on the Fourier transformed vector information, said multiplexing optical system comprising: object vector multiplexing means for multiplexing object vector information as an object to be processed by placing the object vector information on parallel beams of light traveling in various directions; multiple Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a large-aperture lens for performing a Fourier transform on the multiplexed object vector information in parallel and simultaneously; and multiple inverse Fourier transform means consisting essentially of a lens array for performing an inverse Fourier transform in parallel and simultaneously on the object vector information Fourier transformed by said multiple Fourier transform means; wherein the following condition is satisfied: (r.sub.F -2α.sub.max λf.sub.F)/f.sub.F -w.sub.T /f.sub.T ≧2h/f.sub.F where f F is a focal length of said large-aperture lens; r F is an overall effective aperture of said large-aperture lens; f T is a focal length of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform; w T is a width of a light beam emanating from said lens array for inverse Fourier transform in correspondence to each multiplex region and reaching the feature transform plane; h is a distance from an optical axis extending through a center of said large-aperture lens to a center of that lens element in said lens array for inverse Fourier transform which is the farthest from the optical axis; α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as said feature transform means installed in the Fourier transform plane; and λ is a wavelength of light used.

Claim 17

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus comprising: feature vector selecting means for taking out, with respect to each individual feature vector obtained by the feature vector transformation apparatus of claim 8, a feature vector of a region arbitrarily selected from each multiplex portion; feature vector detecting means for acquiring the feature vector obtained by said feature vector transformation apparatus or the feature vector obtained by said feature vector selecting means; and feature vector transmitting means for transmitting data obtained by said feature vector detecting means to a subsequent stage; wherein information obtained by said feature vector transformation apparatus is transformed into information useful for recognition and classification and transmitted to the subsequent stage for processing.

Claim 18

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus comprising: feature vector selecting means for taking out, with respect to each individual feature vector obtained by the feature vector transformation apparatus of claim 9, a feature vector of a region arbitrarily selected from each multiplex portion; feature vector detecting means for acquiring the feature vector obtained by said feature vector transformation apparatus or the feature vector obtained by said feature vector selecting means; and feature vector transmitting means for transmitting data obtained by said feature vector detecting means to a subsequent stage; wherein information obtained by said feature vector transformation apparatus is transformed into information useful for recognition and classification and transmitted to the subsequent stage for processing.

Claim 19

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus comprising: feature vector selecting means for taking out, with respect to each individual feature vector obtained by the feature vector transformation apparatus of claim 10, a feature vector of a region arbitrarily selected from each multiplex portion; feature vector detecting means for acquiring the feature vector obtained by said feature vector transformation apparatus or the feature vector obtained by said feature vector selecting means; and feature vector transmitting means for transmitting data obtained by said feature vector detecting means to a subsequent stage; wherein information obtained by said feature vector transformation apparatus is transformed into information useful for recognition and classification and transmitted to the subsequent stage for processing.

Claim 20

A recognition and classification system comprising a feature vector transformation apparatus, a feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus, and recognition and classification means, wherein the apparatus of claim 8 is used as said feature vector transformation apparatus.

Claim 21

A recognition and classification system comprising a feature vector transformation apparatus, a feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus, and recognition and classification means, wherein the apparatus of claim 9 is used as said feature vector transformation apparatus.

Claim 22

A recognition and classification system comprising a feature vector transformation apparatus, a feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus, and recognition and classification means, wherein the apparatus of claim 10 is used as said feature vector transformation apparatus.

Claim 23

A recognition and classification system comprising a feature vector transformation apparatus, a feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus, and recognition and classification means, wherein the apparatus of claim 11 is used as said feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus.

Claim 24

A recognition and classification system comprising a feature vector transformation apparatus, a feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus, and recognition and classification means, wherein the apparatus of claim 12 is used as said feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus.

Claim 25

A recognition and classification system comprising a feature vector transformation apparatus, a feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus, and recognition and classification means, wherein the apparatus of claim 13 is used as said feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus.

Claim 26

A feature vector transformation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the following condition is satisfied: p≧r.sub.F ≧a+2α.sub.max λf.sub.F where r F is an effective aperture of said Fourier transform lens, and α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as said feature transform means installed in the Fourier transform plane.

Claim 27

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the following condition is satisfied: p≧r.sub.F ≧a+2α.sub.max λf.sub.F where r F is an effective aperture of said Fourier transform lens, and α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as said feature transform means installed in the Fourier transform plane.

Claim 28

A recognition and classification system according to claim 14, wherein the following condition is satisfied: p≧r.sub.F ≧a+2α.sub.max λf.sub.F where r F is an effective aperture of said Fourier transform lens, and α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as said feature transform means installed in the Fourier transform plane.

Claim 29

A recognition and classification system according to claim 17, wherein the following condition is satisfied: p≧r.sub.F ≧a+2α.sub.max λf.sub.F where r F is an effective aperture of said Fourier transform lens, and α max is a maximum spatial frequency needed by a filter serving as said feature transform means installed in the Fourier transform plane.

Claim 30

A feature vector transformation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 0.25 millimeter≦k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t.

Claim 31

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 0.25 millimeter≦k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t.

Claim 32

A recognition and classification system according to claim 15, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 0.25 millimeter≦k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t.

Claim 33

A recognition and classification system according to claim 18, wherein the following condition is satisfied: 0.25 millimeter≦k.sub.d p.sub.d ≦p.sub.t.

Claim 34

A feature vector transformation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the following condition is satisfied: α.sub.max λf.sub.F +w.sub.T /2≦r.sub.T /2 where r T is an effective aperture of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform.

Claim 35

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the following condition is satisfied: α.sub.max λf.sub.F +w.sub.T /2≦r.sub.T /2 where r T is an effective aperture of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform.

Claim 36

A recognition and classification system according to claim 16, wherein the following condition is satisfied: α.sub.max λf.sub.F +w.sub.T /2≦r.sub.T /2 where r T is an effective aperture of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform.

Claim 37

A recognition and classification system according to claim 19, wherein the following condition is satisfied: α.sub.max λf.sub.F +w.sub.T /2≦r.sub.T /2 where r T is an effective aperture of each lens element constituting said lens array for inverse Fourier transform.

Claim 38

A feature vector transformation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the following condition is satisfied: w.sub.T ≧0.25 millimeter.

Claim 39

A feature vector detecting and transmitting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the following condition is satisfied: w.sub.T ≧0.25 millimeter.

Claim 40

A recognition and classification system according to claim 16, wherein the following condition is satisfied: w.sub.T ≧0.25 millimeter.

Claim 41

A recognition and classification system according to claim 19, wherein the following condition is satisfied: w.sub.T ≧0.25 millimeter.