Multiple-object binary joint transform correlation using multiple-level threshold crossing

Abstract

We investigate the performance of the binary joint transform correlator (JTC) in the presence of multiple objects for two types of thresholding that are used to binarize the joint power spectrum. The first method uses the median of the joint power spectrum of the reference image and the input scene as the threshold value. The second method is a two-dimensional thresholding technique used to maximize the light intensity of the correlation peak, and it eliminates the even-order harmonic terms. The correlation performance of the binary JTC is determined for both thresholding methods. The binary JTC output is determined analytically in terms of multiple input targets. The separation requirements of the binary JTC and the conventional JTC in the presence of multiple targets are computed. Computer simulation and experiments are presented for a limited number of multiple-target images to determine the correlation peak-to-sidelobe ratio and the correlation width for both thresholding techniques. In the experiments, a hybrid optical processor with an optically addressed spatial light modulator is used to implement the binary JTC. The results indicate that, using both thresholding methods, the binary JTC produces a large peak-to-sidelobe ratio and a narrow peak for the multiple-target images used in the tests. The two-dimensional threshold function produces better correlation performance compared with the median thresholding.