Abstract: Two liquid crystal display panels, stacked together into a flat compact unit, in conjunction with a dedicated processor producing the appropriate video signals to drive the panels, generates a pair of polarization-encoded left and right images and exhibits them as a stereo image that is viewable through a pair of standard polarized glasses. This makes it possible to obtain stereo effect at a video workstation or at a console by eliminating the bulky box-like setup or the need to project onto a screen.

Abstract: The off-axis joint transform correlator improves on the extant on-axis jo transform correlator by eliminating the requirement for a second laser frequency and the means for blocking the first laser frequency from propagating beyond a given point in the correlator. These eliminations are accomplished by using a beamsplitter and a mirror to bring a second portion of the first frequency at an angle to read the pattern information written onto a spatial light modulator by the first portion.

Abstract: An optical correlator system for encoding a complex optical image onto a erent beam of light such as a laser and comparing it with a reference complex image. One embodiment of the invention encodes phase only information of the complex image onto the coherent beam of light by means of a liquid crystal television receiver. The light beam is passed through the liquid crystal television receiver, whose pixels are manipulated to provide phase information concerning the image. A second embodiment of the invention encodes both phase and amplitude components of a complex image onto the coherent beam of light such as a laser beam. Either or both encodings are utilized in the optical correlator system.

Abstract: Incoherent optical processing techniques are shown which demonstrate image intensity normalization and contour enhancement. A new type of incoherent optical correlator which combines a model of the human neural system with an intensity image convolver. The processor's principal element is a Hughes liquid crystal light valve (LCLV). All components are commercially available and used without modification except for a liquid crystal television (LCLV). In operation the invention can be used as either a pre-processor to intensity normalize and edge enhance video scenes for use in pattern recognition applications or as a real-time pattern recognition device within itself, with the addition of an LCTV.