Optical pattern recognition system using binary phase-only correlator and optimized correlation filters

We propose a real-time optical pattern recognition system using an optical correlator. The system consists of two high speed spatial light modulators. To achieve high performance of pattern classification and to obtain bright correlation signals, the binary phase only modulation of both input patterns and correlation filters is applied. In order to suppress sidelobes in the correlation plane and to achieve the multiple-object pattern classification, optimized correlation filters are utilized. The experimental results shows that bright correlation peaks can be obtained without false peaks or large sidelobes.