US5282067A
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US
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Self-amplified optical pattern recognition system
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1991-10-07
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2011-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A self amplifying optical pattern recognizer includes a geometric system configuration similar to that of a Vander Lugt holographic matched filter configuration with a photorefractive crystal specifically oriented with respect to the input beams. An extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object image beam is formed by laser illumination of an input object image and applied through a photorefractive crystal, such as a barium titanite (BaTiO 3 ) crystal. A volume or thin-film dif ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract, and is subject to the provisions of Public Law 96-517 (35 USC 202) in which the Contractor has elected to retain title.
Inventors
- 👤 Hua-Kuang Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of optical self-amplified pattern recognition, comprising the steps of: recording a diffraction grating in a photorefractive crystal by the interference of an extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object beam and a plane wave reference beam; and forming a pattern recognition signal related to the correlation between the object beam and a reference image beam by application of a spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of optical self-amplified pattern recognition, comprising the steps of: recording a diffraction grating in a photorefractive crystal by the interference of an extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object beam and a plane wave reference beam; and forming a pattern recognition signal related to the correlation between the object beam and a reference image beam by application of a spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of recording the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal further comprises the steps of: focussing a polarized, coherent spherically converging object image beam on the crystal at an angle α with respect to the c-axis of the crystal; applying a polarized, coherent plane wave reference beam to the crystal at the focal point of the spherically converging object image beam at an angle θ to the spherically converging object image beam; and selecting the polarization, intensity and wavelength of object image and plane wave reference beams, and angles α and θ at which such beams are applied to the crystal, to maximize the energy transfer between the later applied spherically converging reference image beam to the pattern recognition signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a pattern recognition signal further comprises the step of: simultaneously re-applying the same polarized, coherent plane wave reference beam applied during the step of recording the diffraction grating so that the step of forming the pattern recognition signal is non-destructive with regard to the diffraction grating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of recording a diffraction grating further comprises the step of: recording a volume diffraction grating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of recording a diffraction grating further comprises the step of: recording a thin-film diffraction grating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical self amplified pattern recognition system, comprising: a photorefractive crystal; means for providing a polarized, spherically converging object image beam; a polarized plane wave reference beam; means for recording a diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal by the interference of the spherically converging object image beam and the plane wave reference beam; means for forming a spherically converging reference image beam; and means for forming a pattern recognition signal related to the correlation between the object beam and a reference image beam by application of the spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical self amplified pattern recognition system, comprising: a photorefractive crystal; means for providing a polarized, spherically converging object image beam; a polarized plane wave reference beam; means for recording a diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal by the interference of the spherically converging object image beam and the plane wave reference beam; means for forming a spherically converging reference image beam; and means for forming a pattern recognition signal related to the correlation between the object beam and a reference image beam by application of the spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The optical self amplified pattern recognition system claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for forming a pattern recognition signal further comprises: means for simultaneously re-applying the same plane wave reference beam so that the diffraction grating is not destroyed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical self amplified pattern recognition system claimed in claim 6 wherein the optical diffraction grating is a volume diffraction grating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical self amplified pattern recognition system claimed in claim 6 wherein the optical diffraction grating is a thin-film diffraction grating.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of optical self-amplified pattern recognition, comprising the steps of: recording a thin-film diffraction grating in a photorefractive crystal by the interference of an extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object beam and a plane wave reference beam; and forming a pattern recognition signal by application of a spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal, wherein the step of recording the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal further comprises the steps of: focussing a polarized, coherent spherically converging object image beam on the crystal at an angle α with respect to the c-axis of the crystal; applying a polarized, coherent plane wave reference beam to the crystal at the focal point of the spherically converging object image beam at an angle θ to the spherically converging object image beam; and selecting the polarization, intensity and wavelength of object image and plane wave reference beams, and angles α and θ at which such beams are applied to the crystal, to maximize the energy transfer between the later applied spherically converging reference image beam to the pattern recognition signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of optical self-amplified pattern recognition, comprising the steps of: recording a thin-film diffraction grating in a photorefractive crystal by the interference of an extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object beam and a plane wave reference beam; and forming a pattern recognition signal by application of a spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal, wherein the step of recording the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal further comprises the steps of: focussing a polarized, coherent spherically converging object image beam on the crystal at an angle α with respect to the c-axis of the crystal; applying a polarized, coherent plane wave reference beam to the crystal at the focal point of the spherically converging object image beam at an angle θ to the spherically converging object image beam; and selecting the polarization, intensity and wavelength of object image and plane wave reference beams, and angles α and θ at which such beams are applied to the crystal, to maximize the energy transfer between the later applied spherically converging reference image beam to the pattern recognition signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
An optical self-amplified pattern recognition system, comprising: a photorefractive crystal; means for providing a polarized, spherically converging object image beam; a polarized plane wave reference beam; means for recording a thin-film diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal by the interference of the spherically converging object image beam and the plane wave reference beam; means for forming a spherically converging reference image beam; and means for forming a pattern recognition signal by application of the spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
An optical self-amplified pattern recognition system, comprising: a photorefractive crystal; means for providing a polarized, spherically converging object image beam; a polarized plane wave reference beam; means for recording a thin-film diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal by the interference of the spherically converging object image beam and the plane wave reference beam; means for forming a spherically converging reference image beam; and means for forming a pattern recognition signal by application of the spherically converging reference image beam to the diffraction grating in the photorefractive crystal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-24 | 1997-07-26 | 1998-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-07-26 | 2002-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-24 | 2005-07-26 | 2006-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |