Abstract

The spectral response of a microchannel spatial light modulator (MSLM) can be used to perform image processing. To accomplish this, the device is modified by placing a lithium niobate crystal plate in front of the read-out surface. The device-crystal combination acts as a color filter whose bandpass depends on the write-in light intensity. By using white light to read out the device, we can exploit this effect to selectively pseudocolor encode images. Possible applications include: edge enhancement, contrast reversal (i.e., color reversal), and image subtraction. An explanation of the spectral properties of the MSLM and some experimental results of the application are presented.

© 1986 Optical Society of America