JP2706094B2 - Parallel optical image processor - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a parallel optical image processing processor applicable to an OCR (optical character identification device), a visual sensor, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image processing using light has been used for filtering processing and correlation processing. This is lens 1 if you use light
High-speed processing is possible by utilizing the fact that Fourier exchange can be performed on a single sheet. However, because of analog processing, accuracy,
There are still many problems in terms of reproducibility, and image processing is mainly performed by a computer. Here, the computer is accurate and easy to program, and can perform various operations. On the other hand, only one address of the memory can be accessed at a time.
Since the processing is performed in dimensional time series, the operation becomes a large-capacity operation, and a considerable processing time is required.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-179424 proposes an optical operation element capable of performing digital processing of a computer and parallel processing of a large capacity.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the use of only the parallelism of light is limited.
There is no one utilizing the flexibility of optical wiring.

Means for Solving the Problems A system is composed of an incoherent / coherent switching element, a coding element, an interconnection element for changing a wiring state of light, a feedback element, and a decoding element.

The input image having visual information is converted into coherent light by an incoherent / coherent switching element, and is coded and perceived by a coding element. The information is selected from the perceived information by using the flexibility of the light wiring of the interconnection element and changing the light wiring state. From this selection information, associating is performed by a feedback operation element, judgment is made based on the result of comparison and collation with the input, and the result is decoded by a decoding element and output. Accordingly, the optical information processing utilizing the parallelism of light and the flexibility of the wiring of light has a visual information processing function.

Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the parallel optical image processing processor of the present embodiment performs processing based on visual information processing, perceives an object, selects information from perceived information, associates information from the selected information, and associates with the input. This is determined from the result of the comparison and collation.

A schematic configuration based on such a concept is shown in FIG. 2 as a block diagram. That is, an incoherent / coherent conversion element 1, a coding element 2, an interconnection element 3 for changing a wiring state of light, a feedback arithmetic element 4, and a decoding element 5 are sequentially configured as a system.

FIG. 1 shows a more specific configuration.
The processing procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the input image that has reached the sensor array 6 is coded by a shaded portion 7 and then output from the semiconductor laser array 8 as a coded image. A sensor array 6 for receiving the two-dimensional incoherent input image,
The incoherent / coherent switching element 1 and the coding element 2 are constituted by the semiconductor laser array 8 that emits coherent light and the shaded portion 7 that is sandwiched between them and performs coding electrically or optically. This coding expresses features (for example, size, color, etc.) of the image by numerical values. Such coding corresponds to perception. The semiconductor laser array 8 outputs a light intensity corresponding to the code value. That is, the coding element 2 is an image of processing up to the primary visual cortex in human visual information processing, and simultaneously performs incoherent / coherent conversion.

Next, selection of which code (characteristic) is to be associated with from among the coded images is performed by the interconnection element 3. The selection information is used to determine a method of association (for example, associating with information that is round and large). The original coded image passes through as is. Thereafter, information associated with the coded image is read from the memory 9. At any rate, various information is superimposed on this staircase, and it is not very clear. That is, the interconnection element 3 performs learning, memory enhancement, and forgetting, and the memory 9 stores a lot of information for association, and reads out the information two-dimensionally.

Then, the associated image and the selection information are converted to a spatial modulation element.
Separated at 10, the selection information is written spatially to the spatial modulation element 11, changing its refractive index. The spatial modulation element 10 functions to separate input information and memory information. Further, the spatial modulation element 11 has a function of changing the optical path length of the resonator by changing the refractive index.

In the resonator using the phase conjugate mirror by the phase conjugate mirrors 12 and 13 and the half mirror 14, the coded image amplified for a certain feature and the associated image are collated (correlated) on the threshold device 15, and a certain level is determined. Output when exceeded.
If the threshold level is not reached, feedback is performed, and the processing is performed again from the interconnection 3. Here, the phase conjugate mirrors 12 and 13 have a function of correcting wavefront disturbance generated in the resonator. Further, the threshold device 15 has a differential characteristic with respect to an input, and has a function of transmitting light having an intensity equal to or higher than a certain level and not transmitting light having an intensity lower than a certain level.

By such a memory 9, the spatial modulators 10 and 11, the phase conjugate mirrors 12 and 13, the half mirror 14, and the threshold device 15, a feedback operation element 4 is achieved.

The output of the threshold device 15 is output to the sensor array 16,
The image is decoded by the hatched portion 17 and output as an image from the semiconductor laser array 18 or the control unit 19.
Is output directly to The decoding element 5 is composed of the sensor array 16, the hatched portion 17 and the semiconductor laser array 18.

 The functions of such a processor are as follows.

Recall from incomplete input When a partially missing image is input, this function outputs the image in association with its own memory.

Input pattern recognition A function to read out what the input image is from its own memory.

Memory enhancement and forgetting When the same input image comes repeatedly, the corresponding processing or memory is strengthened, and the processing and output for the image that is not input much is weakened, and the function is finally forgotten.

Associative memory and associative recall A function that outputs an input image that is different from the most strongly associated input image in its own memory.

In such a processor of this embodiment, the learning function is indispensable. The interconnection element 3 has this learning function, and utilizes the flexibility of optical wiring. That is, the interconnection element 3 splits the input light, which is a two-dimensional image, and outputs the light at an arbitrary intensity by changing the angle in many directions. Learning is performed by determining the direction and intensity of the deflection.

As described above, according to the processor of the present embodiment, the optical information processing capable of high-speed processing of a large-capacity operation using the parallelism of light and the flexibility of wiring is provided with a visual information processing function, Image processing becomes possible. Further, by using light, three-dimensional wiring becomes possible, and the influence between signals can be eliminated, so that no extra measures are required, and the system can be downsized. In addition, since information is handled by digitizing and coding instead of analog processing as in the conventional optical information processing system, accuracy and reproducibility can be improved, and processing that is resistant to object displacement and noise can be performed. Become.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the feedback system in the feedback arithmetic element 4 includes a plurality of mirrors (including a half mirror) 2.
0, 21, 22, and 23 are optically performed.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, one of the phase conjugate mirrors 13 also has a threshold action (the threshold device 15 is also used), and the feedback itself is transmitted from the sensor array 16 for detecting the output of the resonator to the interconnection element 3. It is performed electrically or optically. Further, in this embodiment, the memory 9 is arranged inside the resonator. Further, in this embodiment, one output of the interconnection element 3 is used for threshold control, and is input to the phase conjugate mirror 13 having a threshold function via mirrors 24, 25, and 26.

Further, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the feedback arithmetic element 4 is constructed in a Matsuhazenda type by a plurality of interconnection elements 3a, 3b, memories 9a, 9b, a threshold device 15, and mirrors 20, 21, 22, 23.

Effect of the Invention As described above, the present invention has a system configuration of an incoherent / coherent conversion element, a coding element, an interconnection element for changing an optical wiring state, a feedback element, and a decoding element. It is possible to provide a visual information processing function to large-capacity optical information processing capable of performing high-speed arithmetic processing utilizing the parallelism of light and the flexibility of optical wiring, thereby enabling associative memory, associative recall, and memory. It is possible to provide a processor that performs advanced image processing such as enhancement and oblivion, and also enables three-dimensional wiring by using light and eliminates the influence between its signals. And decoding elements,
Since it is handled by digital coding, accuracy and reproducibility can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Front view showing the embodiment of FIG.
The figure is a front view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Incoherent / coherent conversion element, 2 ...
... coding element, 3 ... interconnection element, 4
…… Feedback operation element, 5 …… Decoding element

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A parallel optical image processing comprising an incoherent / coherent switching element, a coding element, an interconnection element for changing a wiring state of light, a feedback operation element, and a decoding element. Processor.