SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Holographic optical elements (HOEs) of space-variant impulse response have been designed and generated using a computerized optical system. HOEs made of dichromated gelatin have been produced and used for spatial light modulator defect removal and optical interconnects. Experimental performance and characteristics are presented.
A coherent optical correlation technique for real-time simultaneous tracking of several different objects making independent movements is described, and experimental results are presented. An evaluation of this system compared with digital computing systems is made. The real-time processing capability is obtained through the use of a liquid crystal television spatial light modulator and a dichromated gelatin multifocus hololens. A coded reference beam is utilized in the separation of the output correlation plane associated with each input target so that independent tracking can be achieved.
Conditions for operation of commercially available liquid-crystal light valve as binary spatial light modulator discovered. In mode, modulator turns on sharply and then saturates as intensity of writing beam increases. Valve comprises photoconductive layer and liquid-crystal layer separated by dielectric mirror and sandwiched between two transparent electrodes. Potential applications include enhancement of images, optical recording, and holography.
The Photonic Processing group is engaged in applied research on optical processors in support of the Ames vision to lead the development of autonomous intelligent systems. Optical processors, in conjunction with numeric and symbolic processors, are needed to provide the powerful processing capability that is required for many future agency missions. The research program emphasizes application of analog optical processing, where free-space propagation between components allows natural implementations of algorithms requiring a large degree of parallel computation. Special consideration is given in the Ames program to the integration of optical processors into larger, heterogeneous computational systems. Demonstration of the effective integration of optical processors within a broader knowledge-based system is essential to evaluate their potential for dependable operation in an autonomous environment such as space. The Ames Photonics program is currently addressing several areas of interest. One of the efforts is to develop an optical correlator system with two programmable spatial light modulators (SLMs) to perform distortion invariant pattern recognition. Another area of research is optical neural networks, also for use in distortion-invariant pattern recognition.
A method is presented for designing optical correlation filters based on measuring three intensity patterns: the Fourier transform of a filter object, a reference wave and the interference pattern produced by the sum of the object transform and the reference. The method can produce a filter that is well matched to both the object, its transforming optical system and the spatial light modulator used in the correlator input plane. A computer simulation was presented to demonstrate the approach for the special case of a conventional binary phase-only filter. The simulation produced a workable filter with a sharp correlation peak.
Papers on optical pattern recognition are presented, covering topics such as the estimation of satellite pose and motion parameters using a neural net tracker, associative memory, optical implmentation of programmable neural networks, optoelectronic neural networks, dynamic autoassociative neural memory, heteroassociative memory, bilinear pattern recognition processors, optical processing of optical correlation plane data, and a synthetic discriminant function-based nonlinear optical correlator. Other topics include an interactive optical-digital image processor, geometric transformations for video compression and human teleoperator display, quasiconformal remapping for compensation of human visual field defects, hybrid vision for automated spacecraft landing, advanced symbolic and inference optical correlation filters, and a rotationally invariant holographic tracking system. Additional topics include the detection of rotational and scale-varying objects with a programmable joint transform correlator, a single spatial light modulator binary nonlinear optical correlator, optical joint transform correlation, linear phase coefficient composite filters, and binary phase-only filters.
Recent developments in spatial light modulators have led to devices which are capable of continuous phase modulation, even if only over a limited range. One of these devices, the deformable mirror device is used, to compare the relative merits of binary and partially-continuous phase filters in a specific problem of pattern recognition by optical correlation. Each filter was physically limited to only about a radiation of modulation. Researchers have predicted that for low input noise levels, continuous phase-only filters should have a higher absolute correlator peak output than the corresponding binary filters, as well as having a larger SNR. When continuous and binary filters were implemented on the DMD and they exhibited the same performance; an ad hoc filter optimization procedure was developed for use in the laboratory. The optimized continuous filter gave higher correlation peaks than did an independently optimized binary filter. Background behavior in the correlation plane was similar for the two filters, and thus the SNR showed the same improvement for the continuous filter. A phasor diagram analysis and computer simulation have explained part of the optimization procedure's success.
Diplex fiber-optic link part of Goldstone Deep Space Communications complex. Relatively inexpensive equipment delivers signals of high quality. At central station, signal combiner adds 5-MHz reference-frequency signal and 36-bit time-code signal, forming composite signal, which modulates light transmitted along optical fiber. At remote station, fiber-optic receiver detects composite signal and provides input to diplexer, which separates frequency reference signal from time-code signal. Signals then amplified to desired levels.
Photorefractive image-processing apparatus generates images of rapidly moving objects and suppresses images of stationary and slowly moving objects. Resembles apparatus described in article, "Improved Interferometric Photorefractive Optical Processor", NPO-17773. Principle of operation similar, except system includes two video cameras and instead of transparencies, electro-optical spatial light modulators used to impress image information from video camera on laser beams.
A preliminary report on the Active Optical System Components Experiment is presented. This experiment contained 136 components in a six-inch deep tray including lasers, infrared detectors and arrays, ultraviolet light detectors, light-emitting diodes, a light modulator, flash lamps, optical filters, glasses, and samples of surface finishes. The experimental results for those component characteristics appear as much related to the passage of time as to the effects of the space environment, but organic materials and extreme-infrared reflectivity of black paints show unexpected changes.
Two novel deformable mirror structures have been developed for spatial light modulators: an 'AM torsion beam' and a 'phase-mostly single-quadrant cantilever' beam. Both devices are well-suited to optical correlator input and filtering functions. Which the optical modulation characteristic of the torsion-beam modulator is essential amplitude only, which is well suited for use as the input modulator of the optical correlator, the characteristic of the one-quadrant modulator is a phase-mostly modulation whose amplitude changes are coupled to the phase changes; this renders it operable in the Fourier plane of the optical correlator as the filtering device.
Pattern recognition invariant to image rotations of up to 75 deg, using a single filter, has been demonstrated for binary synthetic discriminant function (BSDF) optical filters, suggesting their use in directed graph-arranged data bases which can be rapidly traversed by means of a filter-plane programmable spatial light modulator (SLM). The filter data base is arranged as a tree structure in which the root node filters are invariant to over 60 deg rotation, while the leaves are 5-deg invariant. Results are presented from experiments with BSDFs designed to recognize in-plane-rotated views of a Space Shuttle Orbiter. Using a magnetooptic SLM that is driven at 350 Hz in the filter plane, orientation identifications requiring less than 30 msec have been achieved after sequencing through only 10 BSDFs.
A method is presented for designing optical correlation filters based on measuring intensity patterns in the Fourier plane. The method can be used in general to design any type of frequency plane filter but is especially attractive in the case of a binary phase only filter (BPOF). The method can produce a filter that is well matched to both the object, its transforming optical system and the spatial light modulator used in the correlator input plane. A working filter was produced using the technique, but the filter response was weak. The suspected causes of the weak output are imprecise Fourier plane positioning, nonlinearities in the recording process, and/or aliasing effects.
Current binary-phase filters used for optical correlation are usually assumed to have uniform amplitude transmission. Here, a new type of filter is studied, the binary-phase-and-amplitude filter. If binary phase values of 0 and pi are assumed, the amplitude transmittance values of this type of filter can be optimized to maximize the peak sharpness. For a polarization-encoded binary-phase filter this can be translated into optimization of the rotation angle of the output polarizer following the filter-spatial-light modulator. An analytic expression is presented for the optimum polarizer angle and thus for the optimum binary-phase-and-amplitude filter design.
Experiments demonstrated feasibility of synthetic-discriminant-function filter encoded in binary spatial light modulator. Filter is part of optoelectronic apparatus indicating degree of correlation between input image and any number of training images of same object at various positions and orientations. Used in optical correlator to recognize rotated images, or in tracking system to recognize moving vehicle or other substantially rigid object from any direction.
Pattern recognition may supplement or replace certain navigational aids on spacecraft in docking or landing activities. The need to correctly identify terrain features remains critical in preparation of autonomous planetary landing. One technique that may solve this problem is optical correlation. Correlation has been successfully demonstrated under ideal conditions; however, noise significantly affects the ability of the correlator to accurately identify input signals. Optical correlation in the presence of noise must be successfully demonstrated before this technology can be incorporated into system design. An optical correlator is designed and constructed using a modified 2f configuration. Liquid crystal televisions (LCTV) are used as the spatial light modulators (SLM) for both the input and filter devices. The filter LCTV is characterized and an operating curve is developed. Determination of this operating curve is critical for reduction of input noise. Correlation of live input with a programmable filter is demonstrated.
A near real-time, full parallax holographic display system was developed that has the potential to provide a 3-D display for remote handling operations in hazardous environments. The major components of the system consist of a stack of three spatial light modulators which serves as the object source of the hologram; a near real-time holographic recording material (such as thermoplastic and photopolymer); and an optical system for relaying SLM images to the holographic recording material and to the observer for viewing.
Photonics is an emerging technology, slated for rapid growth in communications systems, sensors, imagers, and computers. Its growth is driven by the need for speed, reliability, and low cost. New nonlinear polymeric materials will be a key technology in the new wave of photonics devices. Electron-conjubated polymeric materials offer large electro-optic figures of merit, ease of processing into films and fibers, ruggedness, low cost, and a plethora of design options. Several new broad classes of second-order nonlinear optical polymers were developed at the Navy's Michelson Laboratory at China Lake, California. Polar alignment in thin film waveguides was achieved by electric-field poling and Langmuir-Blodgett processing. Our polymers have high softening temperatures and good aging properties. While most of the films can be photobleached with ultraviolet (UV) light, some have excellent stability in the 500-1600 nm range, and UV stability in the 290-310 nm range. The optical nonlinear response of these polymers is subpicosecond. Electro-optic switches, frequency doublers, light modulators, and optical data storage media are some of the device applications anticipated for these polymers.