Method and apparatus for processing of reconstructed holographic images of digital data patterns

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reconstructing holographic images is disclosed. A holographic image is recreated from a holographic storage media (10) by passing a reference beam (38) therethrough, which holographic image comprises a composite data image of discrete binary images arranged in an array. A reconstructed data beam (58) is then directed onto a detector array (42), resulting in a reconstructed composite data image (62) formed on the surface thereof. The detector (42) is comprised of a plurality of detector elements or pixels (92) arranged in an array corresponding to the original array of binary data images that are associated with the reconstructed composite data image (62). The reconstructed composite data image is oversampled such that each discrete binary image in the reconstructed composite data image is associated with, for example, four of the detector elements (92) which define pixels. Each group of pixels that is associated with an image is defined as a bixel. A 2.times.2 Margolus neighborhood or other suitable cell neighborhood is defined that is scanned across the array in a predetermined manner and transformation rules applied to the output of the four pixels within the Margolus neighborhood window (90). In a first pass, contrast enhancement is provided wherein if one of the pixels is a gray pixel, it is forced to the state of the other pixels. The edges are then defined and then the overall pixels aligned. A new image is created and then processed in accordance with standard techniques to extract the data therefrom.

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