Current Summary of the Practical Using of Optical Correlators

Abstract

Optical Computing has long been a reportable as the solution of real-time high resolution data processing. Optical processing uses the fastest medium (light) to same calculations as serial electronic systems so process time of these calculations is shorter. The best results in data processing can be obtained by using hybrid, digital-optical, processors as a Optical Correlators which use speed of light (optical part) in cooperation with the electronic components, (digital part). Optical Correlator is optical device to compare two images or two-dimensional data in real time. There are two main types of Optical Correlators, Match Filter and Joint Transform Correlator. In this paper are described both types of correlators and there are shown examples of realized Optical Correlators. Optical Correlators use Optical Fourier Transform to produce transformed image from input image and then second Fourier Transform to obtained correlations in correlation plane. Optical Fourier Transform vs. Fast Fourier Transform process time comparison will be discussed. Main components of Optical Correlators will be presented. Optical Correlators thanks its fast process time and recent advances in liquid crystal technology become more commercially available. Potential applications of these optical processors will be also presented and discussed.