Abstract

A real-time optical processor that can detect spread spectrum signals transmitted by the frequency-hopping method is presented. The system can generate the 2-D correlation distribution between the reference data and the input data at the output plane of the optical processor. The 1-D spread spectrum data in the time domain are converted to 2-D code patterns in the space domain suitable for optical signal processing. The codes are then processed to yield the 2-D correlation between the reference signal and input signal. The architecture of this optical processor is such that the conversion and processing of the data are carried out in real time. The system employs acoustooptic Bragg cells, 2-D spatial light modulators, and the electronics interface. The effect of the acoustooptic cell’s nonideal behavior on the system performance is studied.

© 1987 Optical Society of America