Abstract: There is disclosed a versatile volumetric camera rig composed of a partially spherical structure formed by the combination of a plurality of substructures. The substructure may be made from a plurality of arm components and joint components which may be further outfitted with cameras and other sensors that capture a scene from within the rig.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to imaging device, systems, and methods for collecting optical data for use with spectrometers. An imaging device configured in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes a lens configured to introduce light into the imaging device along an optical path, and an image sensor spaced apart from the lens and configured to receive at least a portion of the light along the optical path. The imaging device further includes a filter assembly positioned between the lens and the image sensor, and a reflector or mirror carried by the filter assembly. The filter assembly is configured to move the reflector between first and second positions. In the first position the reflector is at least partially aligned with the optical path and reflects at least a portion of the light to a corresponding light input for a spectrometer. In the second position the reflector is positioned outside of the optical path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring spatial and angular performance of a visual display are disclosed herein. In one particular embodiment, for example, a method for measuring spatial and angular performance of a flat panel visual display includes capturing a plurality of image measurements from a visual display at a plurality of different view angles. The method also includes selecting one or more points of interest on the visual display, and calculating tristimulus values (X, Y, Z) for each point of interest at each of the plurality of view angles. The method further includes generating a view angle performance plot for the one or more selected points of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for on-site calibration of a visual display sign. In one exemplary implementation of the invention, an imaging device captures image data from a visual display sign. The imaging device can include a CCD digital camera and optics for long-range imaging. The captured image data is sent to an interface that compiles the data. The interface then calculates correction factors for the image data that may be used to achieve target color and brightness values for the image data. The interface then uploads the adjusted image data back to the visual display sign.

Abstract: Rotary shutter assemblies for imaging photometers and methods for using such shutters are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a method for capturing an image with an imaging photometer can include positioning a rotary shutter having an aperture at a first position such that the shutter blocks light traveling along an optical axis from a light source being measured to an image sensor of the photometer. The method can include pivotably moving the shutter at a generally constant angular speed to a second position with the aperture aligned with the optical axis to expose at least a portion of the image sensor to the light for a first predetermined exposure time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining a color calibration for different spectral light inputs in an imaging apparatus measurement are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a method for determining a color calibration for different spectral light inputs in an imaging apparatus measurement can include creating a reference color calibration and a reference luminance scaling calibration for each of a plurality of colors. The method can also include measuring a reference gray value R, G, B for each color in an image measurement of the light source. The method can further include calculating an R, G, B gray value for a first pixel in each of three filtered image measurements. The method can then include calculating pixel ratio values from each of the three first pixel gray values and comparing the reference gray values to the pixel ratio values to determine which one or more reference gray values are closest to the pixel ratio values.

Abstract: A small transparent display with a silicon active backplane on a transparent substrate, an array of pixel transparent electrodes on top of and controlled by the silicon active backplane, a transparent common plate, a liquid crystal material between alignment layers on the backplane and common plate, and a polarizer fabricated on the silicon active backplane. The polarizer corrects for depolarization of light passing through the transparent substrate and the silicon active backplane to improve the contrast of the display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying different color calibrations at different locations in an imaging photometer measurement are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a light source having a first area with a first spectral distribution and a second area having a second spectral power distribution can include selecting one or more data points in the first area for measurement. The method then includes applying a calibration to the selected data points in the first area such that a desired colorimetric result is displayed for each data point in a single colorimetric measurement of the first area. In several embodiments, the method can further include selecting one or more data points in the second area, and applying a different calibration to the selected portions of the second area such that a desired colorimetric result is also displayed for each data point in the second area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring spatial and angular performance of a visual display are disclosed herein. In one particular embodiment, for example, a method for measuring spatial and angular performance of a flat panel visual display includes capturing a plurality of image measurements from a visual display at a plurality of different view angles. The method also includes selecting one or more points of interest on the visual display, and calculating tristimulus values (X, Y, Z) for each point of interest at each of the plurality of view angles. The method further includes generating a view angle performance plot for the one or more selected points of interest.

Abstract: A multi-point calibration method is provided for an imaging light and color measurement device. A light emitting surface with a plurality of light emitting areas is provided. The luminance or color of each light emitting area of the light emitting surface at a specific angle is measured using a spot measurement instrument. By aligning the spot measurement instrument with one of the light emitting areas at a time, the luminance or color of the light emitting areas of the light emitting surface is measured. A measurement of the light emitting surface is made with the imaging light and color measurement device. A matrix of correction factors is calculated to correct the areas as measured by the imaging light and color measurement device to be equivalent to those measured by the spot photometer. While a display device is measured by the imaging light and color measurement device, the measured luminance or color values thereof are corrected by the screen gain correction matrix.

Abstract: A stray light correction method for image light and color measurement system, uses a solid-state light detector array such as a charge-coupled device to record an image, so that a gray level value for each pixel of the solid-state light detector array is obtained. An average gray level value of the solid-state light detector array is calculated based on the gray level value for each pixel. The average gray level value is further multiplied with a stray light factor to obtain a correction value. The gray level value of each pixel is then subtracted with the correction value, such that the stray light effect can be eliminated.

Abstract: A visual display sign having a lighting unit that provides high-efficiency light output from a non-point source of light. The reflector in the lighting unit is sealed and has a shaped reflecting surface obtained by generating a curve from a set of predetermined curve reference points. The shaped reflecting surface provides a light output efficiency of about 60 percent from a non-point source of light and spreads the emitted light about eight degrees from the plane of circumference of the reflector. The lighting units are attached to the visual display sign at a downward angle of about eight degrees from the horizontal.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a lighting unit having a light source emitting light, a reflector placed behind the light source for reflecting the emitted light, and a lens held in front of the light source. The lens is substantially flat and circular. The lens has a predetermined structure that comprises a light-emitting surface and a light-incident surface opposing the light-emitting surface. The light-incident surface of the lens is formed into a vertically oriented high-frequency waveform. In the first embodiment of the lens, the light-emitting surface is substantially flat and the high-frequency waveform is obtained from a combination of a first primary waveform and the third harmonic of the first primary waveform; that is, the high-frequency waveform is derived from the equation ##EQU1## The first embodiment of the lens spreads the emitted light with a graduated distribution horizontally about 20 degrees as measured from the edge of the lens.

Abstract: An illumination system for providing higher efficiency and greater control over uniformity of illumination of non-circular apertures, which are commonly rectangular. The illumination system comprises a reflector of substantially ellipsoidal form surrounding a light source, and which has a concave reflection surface formed of a plurality of curved reflective segments extending along the length of the reflection surface, each of which is tilted and rotated by a predetermined amount to direct light from the reflector almost entirely into the area encompassed by the rectangular aperture including portions of the area which lie outside of a circular area inscribed within the aperture.

Abstract: An optical fiber manifold is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of spaced, large diameter output fibers, or "light pipes", which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The manifold comprises a light converging element, which may be either a lens or a reflector, for converging light separately on each of the spaced optical fibers. The light converging element is segmented, with each segment corresponding to one of the optical fibers, and is precise enough that substantially all of the convergent light is received by the respective cores of each of the spaced output fibers, thereby minimizing light loss.