Image Processing by a Liquid Crystal Bistable Optical Device

Abstract

A pixel of a liquid crystal bistable optical device (LCBOD) with an internal optical feedback is constructed by coupling a TNLC cell and a CdS photoconductive cell. Then, a LCBOD panel for two-dimensional image processing is prepared by arranging the pixels in a 10×10 matrix structure. More complex processing can be attained since arbitrary images can be input electrically by a matrix driving method, as well as by an optical input method. In addition, a new readout method, which does not need any other external devices, is proposed for the iterative operation ; that is, the impedance change (on-state or off-state) is detected by utilizing the matrix electrodes. Some kinds of logic operations between two input images are demonstrated by using the simple system with only one LCBOD panel and its driver.