Abstract

Both analytical and computer calculations predict consistent correlator performance for devices implemented with spatial light modulators with transmissive and/or opaque dead zones. Input camera pixelation effects are discussed. Transmissive deadzone increases the noise by introducing a strong background pattern in the input plane and by allowing an input image to propagate through the filter to the correlation plane. For transmissive input plane SLM dead zone, a de block in the filter plane greatly reduces both transmitted image and speckle noise in the correlation plane. A filter reference image that is smaller than the input SLM must be used to eliminate a false correlation peak from the transparent dead-zone edge and the filter input edge.

© 1992 Optical Society of America