Image morphological operations and edge detection using optical programmable logic neural networks

Abstract

Based on the concept of 2-D programmable logic neural networks, an optical programmable image processor for neighborhood operations is proposed. The spatial polarization encoding and space-variant techniques are used in the design of an optical system which can perform multiple-instruction multiple-data image processing. The system is a cellular logic image processor with nine local neighbor inputs and three outputs. In particular, the applications of the optical scheme in binary image morphological operations and edge detection are described in detail. Simulation results are also presented.