Binary phase only filters for rotation and scale invariant pattern recognition with the joint transform correlator

The joint transform correlator (JTC) is one of the two main optical image processing architecture which provides a highly effective way of comparing images in a wide range of applications. Traditionally, an optical correlator is used to compare an unknown input scene with a pre-captured reference image library, to detect if the reference occurs within the input. Strength of the correlation signal decreases rapidly as the input object rotates or varies in scale relative to the reference object. The aim of this paper is to overcome the intolerance of the JTC to rotation and scale changes in the target image. Many JTC systems are constructed with the use of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) spatial light modulators (SLMs) as they provide fast two-dimensional binary modulation of coherent light. Due to the binary nature of the FLC SLMs used in the JTC systems, any image addressed to the device need to have some form of thresholding. Carefully thresholding the grey scale input plane and the joint power spectrum (JPS) has significant effect on the quality of correlation peaks and zero order (DC) noise. A new thresholding technique to binarise the JPS has been developed and implemented optically. This algorithm selectively enhances the desirable fringes in the JPS which provide correlation peaks of higher intensity. Zero order noise is further reduced when compared to existing thresholding techniques. Keeping in mind the architecture of the JTC and limitations of FLC SLMs, a new technique to design rotation and scale invariant binary phase only filters for the JTC architecture is presented. Filers design with this technique have limited dynamic range, higher discriminability among target and non-target objects, and convenience for implementation on FLC SLMs. Simulation and experiments shows excellent results of various rotation and scale invariant filters designed with this technique. A rotation invariant filter is needed for various machine vision applications of the JTC. By fixing the distance between camera and input object, the scale sensitivity of the correlator can be avoided. In contrast to the industrial machine vision applications, scale factor is very important factor for the applications of the JTC systems in defence and security. A security system using a scale invariant JTC will be able to detect a target object well in advance and will provide more time to take a decision. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.