Real-time hardware implementation of an optical correlation image preprocessing algorithm using an off-the-shelf image processing board

In general, the output data format of a sensor is not compatible with most programmable spatial light modulators (SLMs) used in optical correlators. Therefore, to use the sensor image as the input image in an optical correlator utilizing a programmable SLM, the image must be transformed or preprocessed. Another reason for preprocessing an image is the inherent edge detection of a binary phase-only filter (BPOF) or a ternary phase-amplitude filter (TPAF). The appropriate preprocessing algorithm can be used to enhance the edges in the input image. To be fully useful in an optical correlator system this preprocessing algorithm should be implementable at throughput rates equal to or greater than the throughput of the sensor. This paper presents the methodology and results of implementing some example preprocessing algorithms in an off-the-shelf image processing board to obtain video frame rates when interfacing to an RS-170 sensor.