Multiple polarization encoding for gray image encryption based on liquid crystal exclusive or logic

This work proposes and demonstrates the feasibility of gray image encryption using multiple polarization encoding, in which the cascaded twisted nematic liquid crystal devices sandwiched between a crossed polarizer pair are used to implement exclusive OR (XOR) logical encryption and decryption. The polarization encoding scheme provides a multichannel XOR logic operation to secure bit-plane images derived from a gray image, according to the adiabatic following properties of twisted nematic liquid crystal devices. Experimental data reveal that the multiple polarization encoding schemes for gray image encryption and decryption are performed with acceptable image quality by selecting appropriate polarization orientation and modulation conditions. Both analytic and experimental results are presented and discussed.