Abstract: Biometric authorization and registration systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system preferably comprises a firearm that includes a biometric authorization system, a plurality of training computers, and a server. In the preferred embodiment, the server and the training computer interact to train the biometric authorization system in the firearm to accurately and reliably discriminate between the authorized user and unauthorized users. The server utilizes a training algorithm that takes into account biometric information of not only the authorized user of firearm, but also those of a large number of unauthorized users. Such biometric information is utilized to compute one or more discriminants and thresholds for such discriminant(s), which are then transmitted to the biometric authorization system in the firearm. If the user is allowed to operate the firearm a predetermined percentage of the time, the discriminant thresholds are fixed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the construction and/or use of multidimensional fields that can be used for high-resolution detection and characterization of features within objects. The multidimensional field is constructed from data that is collected by an array of radiation detectors that substantially surround the object under study. The detected radiation is produced by an array of radiation sources and is subsequently scattered, reflected, transmitted, or diffracted by the object under study and any features within the object under study. In particular embodiments of the invention, the radiation that is used is ultrasonic radiation and the object under study is human or animal tissue or an organ. In this case, the invention permits the detection and identification of cancer by an intelligently trained evaluation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the construction and/or use of multidimensional fields that can be used for high-resolution detection and characterization of features within objects. The multidimensional field is constructed from data that is collected by an array of radiation detectors that substantially surround the object under study. The detected radiation is produced by an array of radiation sources and is subsequently scattered, reflected, transmitted, or diffracted by the object under study and any features within the object under study. In particular embodiments of the invention, the radiation that is used is ultrasonic radiation and the object under study is human or animal tissue or an organ. In this case, the invention permits the detection and identification of cancer by an intelligently trained evaluation system.

Abstract: A waveguide hologram illumination system is based on thin substrate waveguides bearing a hologram on the surface through which light is diffracted out. A light source is optically coupled to the waveguide such that light emitted from the source is caused to propagate along the waveguide, being diffracted out at intersections with the surface of the waveguide on which the hologram is formed. The selective emission through the hologram can be advantageously used to illuminate display holograms or spatial light modulators. Provisions are made for rendering the amount of light emitted through the hologram uniform along the length of the hologram.

Abstract: An interferometric environmental monitoring system having an active beam and a reference beam, each following an optical path, a detector system including a detector assembly, a pair of reflecting elements, the first reflecting element receiving the active beam and reflecting it, the second reflecting element receiving the reference beam and reflecting it. The reflected active and reflected reference beams are recombined into a recombined beam, which is directed to the detector assembly. The detector assembly monitors the central fringe of an interference pattern formed by interference when combining the active and the reference beams and providing an output signal related to the movement of the central fringe. The output signal being utilized to provide a signal representative of a condition which measurably affects the active beam.

Abstract: A waveguide hologram illumination system is based on thin substrate waveguides bearing a hologram on the surface through which light is diffracted out. A light source is optically coupled to the waveguide such that light emitted from the source is caused to propagate along the waveguide, being diffracted out at intersections with the surface of the waveguide on which the hologram is formed. The selective emission through the hologram can be advantageously used to illuminate display holograms or spatial light modulators. Provisions are made for rendering the amount of light emitted through the hologram uniform along the length of the hologram.

Abstract: A multimode waveguide having a small thickness has light coupled to the side of the waveguide in order to provide a multimode operation of the waveguide for providing a continuous pattern of totally internally reflected light which is utilized to reconstruct holographic images from a holographic emulsion placed on a surface of the waveguide. This waveguide structure for reconstructuring a hologram has the capability of providing highly efficient hologram reconstruction while using ordinary light sources and is able to use beam diameters greater than the thickness of the waveguide.

Abstract: A multimode waveguide having a small thickness has light coupled to the side of the waveguide in order to provide a multimode operation of the waveguide for providing a continuous pattern of totally internally reflected light which is utilized to reconstruct holographic images from a holographic emulsion placed on a surface of the waveguide. This waveguide structure for reconstructuring a hologram has the capability of providing highly efficient hologram reconstruction while using ordinary light sources and is able to use beam diameters greater than the thickness of the waveguide.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for simulating a highly interconnected neural network is disclosed as including a spatial light modulator (SLM), an inputting device, a laser, a detecting device, and a page-oriented holographic component. The inputting device applies input signals to the SLM. The holographic component optically interconnects N.sup.2 pixels defined on the spatial light modulator to N.sup.2 pixels defined on a detecting surface of the detecting device. The interconnections are made by N.sup.2 patterns of up to N.sup.2 interconnection weight encoded beams projected by N.sup.2 planar, or essentially two-dimensional, holograms arranged in a spatially localized array within the holographic component. The SLM modulates the encoded beams and directs them onto the detecting surface wherein a parameter of the beams is evaluated at each pixel thereof.

Abstract: A system to produce interconnections between a planar input array and a planar output array using a holographic planar array made by a single exposure or multiple exposures of a photosensitive medium incorporated therein at each of M.times.N positions in said holographic planar array to store the weighted interconnections to connect each input of the O.times.P input array to any one or any combination of outputs in the R.times.s output array in parallel with the strength of connection for each output being determined by the weighting factors as stored in said holographic planar array unadjusted or as adjusted by one or more modulating devices incorporated therein when the optically aligned system is illuminated from any one or any combination of V.times.W sources each of which produces a beam of electromagnetic radiation singular in time or any combination of such V.times.W sources in parallel with each such source producing a different wavelength or any combination of such V.times.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for simulating a highly interconnected neural network is disclosed as including a spatial light modulator (SLM), an inputting device, a laser, a detecting device, and a page-oriented hologaphic component. The inputting device applies input signals to the SLM. The holographic component optically interconnects N.sup.2 pixels defined on the spatial light modulator to N.sup.2 pixels defined on a detecting surface of the detecting device. The interconnections are made by N.sup.2 patterns of up to N.sup.2 interconnection weight encoded beams projected by N.sup.2 planar, or essentially two-dimensional, holograms arranged in a spatially localized array within the holographic component. The SLM modulates the encoded beams and directs them onto the detecting surface wherein a parameter of the beams is evaluated at each pixel thereof.

Abstract: An improved hologram writer writes a halogram from a three dimensional data stream or signal such as a signal corresponding to a scene, a picture, drawing or the like. A reference beam and an object or information beam are directed to a holographic recording member, and the information beam is focused through a point near the holographic recording member. A diverger means such as a diffuser, a lens array, a holographic element or the like adapted to form an expanding beam from a point image or spot receives a focused modulated information beam and directs it to the holographic recording member as a divergent beam. The beam may be sent directly to the recording member or it may be optically or otherwise relayed to the member. The point source may be in front of, behind or within the holographic recording member.

Abstract: A micro graphic representation such as a hologram is formed by directing from a computer to a display surface signals to form a very small portion of the graphic representation of the display surface, focusing a micro image of the display on a recording element, mechanically moving the recording element to a new position, optically measuring the new position and signalling the computer the precise new position and then sending to the display surface next signals to form on the display surface a next very small portion of the graphic representation with the position of the next portion modified to compensate for the difference between the measured position and the required position. The piece-by-piece display is repeated a large number of times to record an entire graphic representation. One embodiment of the invention is a hologram writer.

Abstract: A hologram is written from x, y, z data by presenting an information beam at a holographic medium with x and y coordinates represented by x and y position on the medium and z coordinates represented by distance between the holographic medium and a point position of the beam close to the medium, while simultaneously presenting a reference beam in interference with the information beam and of a size comparable with the size of the information beam at the holographic medium. The area of the information beam and the reference beam at any position on the holographic medium is a small fraction of the total area of the hologram.

Abstract: Coherent light such as a laser beam is spatially modulated by causing it to interact at a photosensitive material such as a crystal with a focussed image of non-coherent light. An electric potential is applied to the crystal either transversely to the direction of the light or in line with the direction of the light according to either the Kerr effect or the Pockels effect. Typical crystals include Bismuth-silicon-oxide and strontium-barium-niobate.

Abstract: Image enhancement is achieved to increase the ability to distinguish details otherwise difficult to discern in bright and dark areas of a photorecord by reflecting light off surface perturbations on the record and displaying the reflected light by means of schlieren optics.

Abstract: A device that provides reconfigurable optical interconnections of multiple ata channels that have applications in highly parallel computers. The device utilizes an array of optical switches which direct a set of optical beams toward any one of a selection of holograms and each hologram when selected deflects the input beams toward a detector.