United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Mary A Flavin

Joseph L Horner

Method of producing an averaged amplitude mask, for use in conjunction with a phase only filter (pOF) to provide an averaged amplitude matched filter (AAMF) in a Fourier transform optical correlator, involves intensity normalizing a plurality of reference images within a given class of objects, averaging the intensities of the reference images, Fourier transforming the resulting data, and utilizing the resultant amplitude function, exclusive of phase, of the Fourier transform to produce the averaged amplitude filter. A number of such masks are sequentially positioned adjacent the POF to very rapidly determine whether an input image falls within a particular class of objects, or whether the input image is of a particular object within the class.

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Satellite Beach, FL, United States of America

Mary A Flavin