US 5,208,685 AGranted

Compact optical processor

AssigneeEnvironmental Research Institute of Michigan

InventorsCarl C. Aleksoff, Nikola S. Subotic

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Abstract

This invention is a compact optical processor including a coherent light source, plural optical elements that together form a Fourier transform interferometer, and a two dimensional detector array. The light source generates a two dimensional input optical wavefront intensity modulated according to the input signal. The optical elements are formed as slab-like members with parallel input and output surfaces. These optical elements are disposed abutting in tandem. The light detecting device includes a two dimensional array of photosensitive elements generating an image signal corresponding to the processed two dimensional optical wavefront. The plural optical elements preferably include at least one acousto-optical element forming a two dimensional scanner. The plural optical elements may further includes a holographic optical element to block light undiffracted by the scanning elements. The plurality of optical elements may include a modified Kosters interferometer with a beam splitter and two orthogonally disposed roof prisms. The optical processor may operate on plural input signals on separate wavelengths employing sets dichroic beam splitters to assemble and separate plural wavelengths from separate point sources.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An optical processor comprising:.

a light generating device for generating a plurality of two dimensional input optical wavefronts at predetermined differing wavelengths, each two dimensional input optical wavefront having an intensity modulated according to a corresponding input signal;
a plurality of optical elements, each optical element receiving a plurality of two dimensional optical wavelengths at said predetermined wavelengths of said light generating device and outputting a plurality of processed two dimensional optical wavefronts, said plurality of optical elements disposed in tandem with a first said optical element receiving said plurality of two dimensional input optical wavefronts at said predetermined wavelengths of said light generating device and each later optical element receiving said processed two dimensional optical wavefronts output by the prior optical element;
and
a light detecting device for receiving said plurality of processed two dimensional optical wavefronts of said last optical element and having a plurality of two dimensional arrays of photosensitive elements, each two dimensional array of photosensitive elements receiving light of a corresponding wavelength, each photosensitive element of each two dimensional array generating an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of received light thereby generating a plurality of image signals corresponding to said plurality of processed two dimensional optical wavefronts of said last optical element.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.