We describe in this paper an evaluation system for completely characterizing a digital still camera developed at our laboratory. The CCD sensor array of the camera was first used to assess the modulation transfer function of the lens system, the calibrated lens was then used to measure the single-chip color CCD sensor array. Accordingly, performance of the complete camera system can be evaluated as a whole. Measurements performed on this imaging system include dynamic range, signal to noise ratio, modulation transfer function and contrast transfer function of the lens as well as the CCD. With the help of a standard color test plate and prior knowledge about the spectral distributions, spectral response of the color filters coated on the CCD were computed approximately. The results of our experiments were compared with the data sheet provided and the theoretical calculation. The apparatuses needed for measuring the entire imaging system include only calibrated light source and standard test patterns, while the data access subsystem was part of the digital camera and the mathematical analyzing tools are developed on a personal computer. Consequently, system design was simplified and the evaluation process was made more efficient and cost effective.

Date Published: 25 March 1996
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 2654, Solid State Sensor Arrays and CCD Cameras, (25 March 1996); doi: 10.1117/12.236097

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2654:
Solid State Sensor Arrays and CCD Cameras
Constantine N. Anagnostopoulos; Morley M. Blouke; Michael P. Lesser, Editor(s)