DEVELOPMENT, PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF A PHOTOCHROMIC ADAPTIVE FILTER

Development and properties of a photochromic adaptive filter made of o rganic photochromic materials embedded into a thin polymeric film are presented. Photochromic filters, whose spectral transmittance depends on previous and immediate radiant exposure, are used as opto-optic spa tial light modulators for image processing. Photosensitive compounds e mbedded in a thin polymeric film are induced to change their absorptio n, by exposure to visible and ultra-violet light. This change in absor ption is used in an opto-electronic system, which unites a charge coup led device camera with a photochromic filter, to enhance the quality o f the detected image. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.