Abstract: Prior art optical image correlators are extremely cumbersome and do not use spatial light modulators. To determine whether an of-interest target is within a scene, the present invention optical correlator uses a laser diode, a spatial light modulator, a holographic lens array, a matched filter array and an inverse transform lens. In particular, the laser diode generates a coherent laser beam, which is expanded and collimated. Information of the of-interest target is encoded thereon by the spatial light modulator. The encoded laser beam is then directed to the holographic lens array, which replicates from the single laser beam a plurality of similar beams. These beams are focused onto a matched filter array having multiple matched filters, the number of which corresponds to the number of incoming beams.

Abstract: Prior art optical correlator systems can perform only translation or rotation. Moreover, images obtained from these prior art systems are blurred due to movements of the target. In the present optical correlator system, to compare symbols on a particular frame of a film with predefined symbols stored in a memory, a novel driving mechanism which can both translate and rotate the film is used. The driving mechanism includes a translation device which has a plurality of gears and rollers mounted in a platform within a housing which may be filled with a fluid having an index of refraction corresponding to that of the film. Motors are coupled to the housing for translating and rotating the driving mechanism so that selected symbols on the film may be compared both linearly and rotatively with predefined symbols. The driving mechanism may further be used as an image motion compensator for eliminating blurring caused by target movements.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically fabricating multi-hologram optical elements. Signal and reference beams are formed and directed along separate paths that intersect at a recording medium; and a gate is moved through a first sequence to expose a plurality of views, one at a time, to the signal beam to spatially modulate that beam. A matrix of beams, each of which converges toward a different area of the recording medium, is generated from the spatially modulated signal beam, and a mask is moved through a second sequence to pass the matrix beams onto the recording medium to record a plurality of diffraction patterns thereon.

Abstract: The specification discloses a mount for an optical device having 6 degrees of freedom; three translations along the x, y and z axes and three pivotal or rotational movements about each of the axes. The mount is particularly useful in mounting scanning cameras, robotic eyes, or correlating image or pattern recognition devices for use in self-guided missiles. When used in free-flight, the three pivotal or rotational movements correspond to pitch, roll, and yaw. A semi-spherical drive means which is rotatably journaled in a complimentary semi-spherical fixed mount. The drive means defines an optical axis within having interior threads. A first carrier is threaded into the drive means and translated along the z axis by rotation of the spherical drive means. A second carrier is mounted for x, y translation within the first carrier. Pivotal or rotational movement about the x and y axes may occur between the first carrier of the drive hemisphere, or between the drive hemisphere and the fixed mount.