Hybrid Image Processing Using a Simple Optical Technique

Abstract

A digital image processor can carry out arithmetic operations and nonlinear operations with noise-free processing but takes much computer time to calculate the two-dimensional (2-D) convolution often used for image processing. On the other hand, an optical processor can do the 2-D convolution at very high speeds but not with great arithmetic precision. Division is especially difficult by means of optical methods. The fundamentals of hybrid processing presented in this chapter make good use of the capability for highspeed 2-D convolution (2-D low pass filtering) by an incoherent optical system in the course of digital processing.