Analog optical processing for the construction of fractal objects
US5132831A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06E3/001
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An analog optical processor for performing affine transformations and constructing fractal objects. An optical processor for optically performing an iterated affine transformation includes a rotating prism, an imaging lens and a translatable mirror, together with a pulsed laser as an input light source and an image detector array to record the final transformed image. The amount of rotation is determined by the setting of the rotating prism. The imaging lens provides the required magnification or demagnification. The translating mirror is shifted to provide the necessary translation. The pulsed image passes through the optical loop many times to perform the transformation. An optical Iterated Function System is implemented by connecting a plurality of the optical loops in parallel, together with shutters or beamsplitters for guiding the pulsed image to different loops according to the probabilities assigned by the Iterated Function System.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.