Input scene restoration in pattern recognition correlator based on digital photo camera

Diffraction image correlator based on commercial digital SLR photo camera was reported earlier. The correlator was proposed for recognition of external scenes illuminated by quasimonochromatic spatially incoherent light. The correlator hardware consists of digital camera with plugged in optical correlation filter unit and control computer. The kinoform used as correlation filter is placed in a free space of the SLR camera body between the interchangeable camera lens and the swing mirror. On the other hand, this correlator can be considered as a hybrid optical-digital imaging system with wavefront coding. It allows not only to recognize objects in input scene but to restore, if needed, the whole image of input scene from correlation signals distribution registered by SLR camera sensor. Linear methods for image reconstruction in the correlator are discussed. The experimental setup of the correlator and experimental results on images recognition and input scenes restoration are presented.