Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for real-time optical broadband pseudocolor encoding of an image. A light polarization spatial modulator is utilized to density encode an incident beam of plane-polarized light; the beam is dispersed into its primary colors; the polarizations of the dispersed beams are analyzed to produce positive, negative, and bidirectionally modualated images which are each separately encoded with a primary color; and the primary-color encoded beams are combined to produce a pseudocolored image. In a preferred embodiment the pseudocolor encoding apparatus comprises a compact white-light projection system and a liquid-crystal television spatial light polarization modulator. The invention makes possible the large-screen display of broadband pseudocolor images from real-world input scenes from a television camera.

Abstract: System for optically recognizing and tracking a plurality of objects within a field of vision. Laser (46) produces a coherent beam (48). Beam splitter (24) splits the beam into object (26) and reference (28) beams. Beam expanders (50) and collimators (52) transform the beams (26, 28) into coherent collimated light beams (26', 28'). A two-dimensional SLM (54), disposed in the object beam (26'), modulates the object beam with optical information as a function of signals from a first camera (16) which develops X and Y signals reflecting the contents of its field of vision. A hololens (38), positioned in the object beam (26') subsequent to the modulator (54), focuses the object beam at a plurality of focal points (42). A planar transparency-forming film (32), disposed with the focal points on an exposable surface, forms a multiple position interference filter (62) upon exposure of the surface and development processing of the film (32).

Abstract: An image difference detection system is described, of the type wherein two created image representations such as transparencies representing the images to be compared lie coplanar, while light passes through the two transparencies and is formed into coincident images at the image plane for comparison. The two transparencies are formed by portions of a polarization rotation spacial light modulator display such as a multi-pixel liquid crystal display or a magneto optical rotation type. In a system where light passing through the two transparencies is polarized in transverse directions to enable the use of a Wollaston prism to bring the images into coincidence, a liquid crystal display can be used which is devoid of polarizing sheets that would interfere with transverse polarizing of the light passing through the two transparencies.