Abstract

A novel sine-filter-cosine correlator is described for coherent optical processing. The advantages of this system are that it uses filter masks that are real-valued and non-negative while still providing a maximum value of SNR in the output, i.e., matched filter performance. Additionally and quite importantly, this system also provides desirable control over the shape of the correlation signal. Theoretical justification is presented by calculations of the shape of the cross-correlation of two real-valued functions compared and contrasted with corresponding correlations of their even and odd parts separately.

© 1987 Optical Society of America