Microoptics and microelectronics for image processing

Outlines progress in microoptics and discusses concepts that blend epitaxial layers of analog circuitry, microoptics, microlaser arrays, and detector arrays with neural retinal designs. Sensor developments can lead to tightly-coupled adaptive focal plane arrays. Key focal plane ´amacronic´ functions are motion detection, edge enhancement and space-variant dynamic range reduction. ´Amacronics´ refers to layers of optically and competitively-coupled focal planes with local electronic processing cells. With an optically crosslinked detector array, competitive nonlinear center-surround designs that form the basis of biological amacrine functions could be implemented.<>