Company – imatest https://www.imatest.com Image Quality Testing Software & Test Charts Thu, 16 Apr 2020 20:22:33 -0600 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3 Imatest and Furonteer Reduce Camera Intrinsic Calibration Time with Automated Machines https://www.imatest.com/2019/06/imatest-and-furonteer-reduce-camera-intrinsic-calibration-time-with-automated-machines/ https://www.imatest.com/2019/06/imatest-and-furonteer-reduce-camera-intrinsic-calibration-time-with-automated-machines/#respond Mon, 24 Jun 2019 14:00:38 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=26272 BOULDER, CO – JUNE 25TH, 2019 — Imatest, a global image quality testing solution provider, partnered with Furonteer, an automation equipment manufacturer, in early 2019 to provide production machines for geometric calibration of single and multicamera devices.

“Since partnering with Imatest, we have proven a calibration solution that overcomes the technical limitations in the camera calibration process that autonomous camera manufacturers currently face. There is tremendous synergy between our two companies,” said Simon Bae, CEO, and President of Furonteer in South Korea. “With Imatest’s leadership in image quality testing and our leadership in active alignment and automated multicamera alignment equipment for mobile and automotive camera modules, we expect to expand the business cooperation to a variety of applications and establish ourselves as key solution providers in the automotive space and beyond.”

The companies combine two areas of expertise for an all-in-one solution that enables customers to rapidly calibrate cameras to meet internal and 3rd party vision system requirements. As manufacturers strive to make reliable autonomous driving vehicles, the pressure increases for providers to source and accurately calibrate the cameras necessary to build systems that safely guide cars on the road. Imatest’s solution, in partnership with Furonteer, significantly increases the effectiveness of a company’s camera calibration tests to produce images that accurately represent real-world scenes, empowers the company to meet extremely challenging perception system requirements, and reduces the overall costs required to complete camera calibrations.

Henry Koren, Director of Engineering at Imatest, said, “Our partnership with Furonteer fills a gap in the market for camera calibration. It is a rigorous process for customers to calibrate their single or multicamera devices to meet system requirements. By combining our imaging science expertise with Furonteer’s manufacturing prowess, we offer a very accurate and reliable way for customers to complete their calibrations in a production environment.”

Imatest and Forunteer actively work with Tier 1 manufacturers and OEMs to define their unique calibration process and reduce the time to market. For more information on Imatest’s Geometric Camera Calibration Solution, navigate here. To contact Imatest directly about this solution, please contact them here.

 

Imatest, LLC

Imatest, LLC has been empowering customers to produce cameras that exceed their customers’ expectations since 2004 by enabling objective measurements with impartial testing software, equipment, and expertise. For more information, visit Imatest’s website at imatest.com/about.

Furonteer Inc.

Furonteer created its name from a combination of Future, Frontier, and Pioneer because they are a Pioneer of the Future Frontier in technology. Established in 2009, they serve customers with a variety of camera module test equipment for R&D and manufacturing with a focus in automation equipment for active alignment and multicamera alignment. For more information, visit Furonteer’s website at furonteer.com.

 

© Copyright 2019 Imatest, LLC. All rights reserved.

© Copyright 2019 Furonteer. All rights reserved.

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P2020 Automotive Engineering Technology May 2019 https://www.imatest.com/2019/05/p2020-automotive-engineering-technology-may-2019/ https://www.imatest.com/2019/05/p2020-automotive-engineering-technology-may-2019/#respond Tue, 28 May 2019 16:35:03 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=26038 Imatest attended the P2020 meeting on May 13 and 14, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Paul Romancyzk, PhD., Senior Imaging Scientist, and Rob Sumner, Lead Engineer, represented Imatest. Paul co-led the discussion on Color Separation within the Image Quality for Machine Vision subgroup.

Imatest was among many industry leaders to attend the working group on automotive imaging standards. P2020 was established in order to address the considerable ambiguity in the measuring of image quality of automotive imaging systems, both for human viewing and computer vision systems.

Image quality plays a crucial role in both automotive viewing and automotive computer vision applications, and today’s image evaluation approaches do not necessarily meet the needs of such applications. Currently, there is not a consistent approach to measuring automotive image quality within the industry

The IEEE P2020 standard aims to fix these deficiencies by connecting industry leaders at all levels of the automotive supply chain, identifying gaps in existing standards, and working to address these by creating a coherent set of key performance indicators by which camera systems and components may be evaluated in a manner consistent with their intended use.

P2020 meetings are held regularly in both Michigan and Germany, considered global centers of automotive technology. If you’re interested in joining the next meeting, see the IEEE website for upcoming meeting locations.

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Imatest will Attend AutoSens Detroit on May 14-16, 2019 https://www.imatest.com/2019/04/imatest-to-attend-autosens-detroit-may-14-16/ https://www.imatest.com/2019/04/imatest-to-attend-autosens-detroit-may-14-16/#respond Fri, 26 Apr 2019 18:14:26 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=25855 Imatest will attend AutoSens in Detroit on May 14-16, 2019. AutoSens is a 3-day workshop, conference, and exhibition advancing the education for and development of vehicle perception technology. It brings together over a thousand minds in vehicle perception, ADAS, and autonomous vehicles twice a yearin Detroit, Michigan USA in May, and Brussels, Belgium in September. Each event includes conference sessions, discussions, collaborations, debates, networking, business meetings, interactive learning, autonomous driving demonstrations, and technology exhibition showcasing.

Imatest is advancing autonomous technology with software, equipment, and expertise around image quality. Our engineers are actively involved in defining automotive imaging standards as part of the IEEE-SA P2020 working group. P2020’s goal is to resolve the current ambiguity around automotive imaging standards by defining a coherent set of key performance indicators including LED flicker susceptibility and Contrast Detection Probability. The standard will provide clear camera performance test definitions so companies can design highly effective and safe autonomous vehicle vision systems. Imatest is producing software features and equipment to meet imaging standards and expectations as well as enable reliable and efficient testing for machine-vision and human-vision automotive applications.

Several of our engineers will be at the exposition, in booth #2, to share information about our new and upcoming products and solutions for testing and calibrating automotive camera imaging systems. Stop by the Imatest booth to learn more about our:

Rob Sumner, Senior Imaging Science Engineer at Imatest, is a key contributor in the P2020 standard initiative. He will be presenting the latest developments for the Contrast Detection Probability key performance indicator. Learn about the challenges and the current progress in defining a standard for it. Stop by the Imax theater to catch Rob’s talk as well as many other presentations from industry leaders.

Rob’s Presentation: 
TopicContrast Detection Probability – A new P2020 KPI for System and Component Level Image Quality 
Date: Wednesday, May 15 
Time: 2:55 PM – 3:20 PM ( 25 Min ) 
Location: IMAX Theater

AutoSens is taking place at:

The Michigan Science Center
5020 John R St, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
http://www.mi-sci.org
May 14-16, 2019
Here are the recommended parking locations.

You can find a program of events here, and if you are not already going, register here.

We hope to see you there! Make sure to stop by our booth. As always, contact us if you have any questions about our products or would like to speak to someone about our image quality testing solutions.

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Imatest at IEEE P2020 https://www.imatest.com/2019/03/imatest-at-ieee-p2020/ https://www.imatest.com/2019/03/imatest-at-ieee-p2020/#respond Fri, 01 Mar 2019 15:37:13 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=25238 Imatest sent two engineers to the IEEE P2020 Automotive Imaging Quality face-to-face meeting in Dusseldorf, Germany this past February in 2019. The IEEE P2020 standard, which is still in development, aims to define KPIs and test procedures to address the many challenges relevant (and often unique) to automotive imaging.

The group hopes to publish the standard in the year 2020 (no relation to the standard’s identifying number) as a unifying guideline for developers of autonomous driving systems. Most driver-assist and autonomous-driving systems rely heavily on cameras despite the significant press other imaging modalities, such as LIDAR, have received. As Level 3, 4, and 5 autonomous vehicles start to come on the road in 2020 and beyond, it is vital that these systems have an agreed-upon set of rigorous performance metrics.

Imatest is playing a leading role in validating metrics and developing test methodologies for the group. Our expertise in digital photographic technology is sought as a reference point in all three of the standard’s main subgroup topics: machine vision, human viewing (for things like surround cameras and mirror replacement systems), and flicker caused by interaction between image sensors and LED lighting.

New participants interested in this domain are invited to join the next face-to-face meeting in, tentatively in Detroit in May (exact date TBD). This white paper released last fall describes the context and purpose of the group.

Automotive Camera Testing Solutions

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Partnership with Shenzhen Polytechnic University https://www.imatest.com/2019/01/shenzhen-polytechnic-university-partnership/ https://www.imatest.com/2019/01/shenzhen-polytechnic-university-partnership/#respond Wed, 09 Jan 2019 18:42:23 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=24743 Imatest partnered with Shenzhen Polytechnic University to support the digital image quality testing curriculum at the university. With the expansion of their image quality program, Imatest sponsored and authorized the development of a state of the art research and education lab.

The lab and ceremony

On October 31st, 2018, Henry Koren, Director of Engineering, and Ian Longton, Imaging Science Engineer joined Shenzhen Polytechnic Executive Vice Presidents of Communication Engineering, Dean He Yuhua and Yang Yunyan, Vice President Zhang Xuilang, and Colorspace General Manager Nick Liu and colleagues for the official unveiling ceremony.

At the ceremony, Dean He Yuhua introduced the development of the college program and the opportunities it offers. He also discussed the importance of cooperation with international image quality testing companies for integrating production and education. The ceremony was held to announce the establishment of Shenzhen Polytechnic’s new lab.

The high-level imaging science laboratory is the first to be built in cooperation with Colorspace and a university. The image quality testing industry is rapidly changing, and the University’s lab will serve as a space for students to learn about digital image quality, as well as cultivating new technologies within the industry.

The future

At the ceremony, Henry introduced new developments in imaging science technology, standards, and their applications for many industries. Imatest is planning in-depth cooperation with the college to provide localized services and support for our corporate customers in South China.

Shenzhen Polytechnic will use this new lab for its digital image quality testing courses with Imatest products integrated throughout the lab. Through our ongoing partnership, Imatest will sponsor and support facility by providing technology and charts to support the curriculum. At the completion of the course, students who meet the satisfactory level of image quality and software operation knowledge will earn a certification.

Are you interested in becoming Imatest certified? We offer training classes around the world.

Training Schedule

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New IEEE P2020 Automotive Image Quality White Paper https://www.imatest.com/2018/10/new-automotive-image-quality-standard-read-the-ieee-p2020-white-paper/ https://www.imatest.com/2018/10/new-automotive-image-quality-standard-read-the-ieee-p2020-white-paper/#respond Wed, 03 Oct 2018 16:28:49 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=23448 Learn more about the development of standards for automotive camera systems.

The IEEE-SA P2020 is a working group for automotive imaging standards. Its goal is to define a set of standards to resolve the current ambiguity in the measurement of image quality in automotive imaging systems. Generally, today’s image evaluation approaches do not adequately address the unique needs of either the human or computer-vision based automotive applications; therefore IEEE-SA P2020 is working with people in the field, understanding the gaps in current standards, and creating a coherent set of key performance indicators by which automotive camera systems might consistently be evaluated.

Our Involvement

Since the beginning of this working group, Imatest’s engineers continue to be heavily involved in the IEEE P2020 standard for automotive camera systems. The two areas of focus are Contrast Detection Probability and Flicker Measurement. We are actively working with major image sensor manufacturers to assess Contrast Detection Probability as a practical test measurement for evaluating the amount of contrast information present at various parts of the imaging chain. Additionally, we are the principal contributors towards the Flicker Measurement subgroup, and are preparing a publication to describe the effect further and why it is an essential consideration for ADAS and automated driving systems.

 

The Future

There is much to come as IEEE P2020 leads the creation of standards for automotive camera system testing. As automobiles evolve, autonomous vehicles mature, and the car becomes an artificial-intelligence platform connected to everyday life, it will be crucial to adapt and define proper evaluation metrics for the multi-sensor, multi-camera, and multi-application systems on an automobile. The IEEE P2020 working group involves leading camera and sensor manufacturers, leading automobile manufacturers, and leading imaging science engineers, and will leverage all the various backgrounds and experiences to create and adopt this standard for all automobile and part manufacturers. Download the most recent publication below from IEEE P2020.

 

If you have any questions for us on how this standard can help your projects, please email Ian Longton at ian@imatest.com.

 

DOWNLOAD THE WHITEPAPER

 

Distribution:

All rules about how the material can be used, copyrights, legal caveats etc. are contained within the document. It must only be shared in full so that these details are clearly indicated.

 

To stay informed on the work and progress of this standard, you can visit our standards page or look at the P2020 working group site directly.

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Increasing the Repeatability of Your Sharpness Tests https://www.imatest.com/2018/09/increasing-repeatability-of-sharpness-tests/ https://www.imatest.com/2018/09/increasing-repeatability-of-sharpness-tests/#respond Mon, 24 Sep 2018 21:28:31 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=15905 By Robert Sumner
With contributions from Ranga Burada, Henry Koren, Brienna Rogers and Norman Koren

Consistency is a fundamental aspect of successful image quality testing. Each component in your system may contribute to variation in test results. For tasks such as pass/fail testing, the primary goal is to identify the variation due to the component and ignore the variation due to noise. Being able to accurately replicate test results with variability limited to 1-5% will give you a more accurate description of how your product will perform.

Since Imatest makes measurements directly from the image pixels, any source that adds noise to the image can affect measurements. A primary source of noise in images is electronic sensor noise. Photon shot noise also contributes significantly in low-light situations. Other systemic sources of measurement variability, such as autofocus hysteresis, will not be addressed in this post.  

In order to reduce variation in your sharpness results and increase test repeatability, you should take steps to decrease the amount of noise in your image.

Here are 5 tips to limit noise in your test results:

Maximize your samples

Since most sources of noise are independent across both different exposures and pixel locations within an exposure, their influence can be effectively canceled by averaging multiple samples.

In order to exploit the temporal aspect of noise, you can combine multiple images of the same scene using the “Combine files for signal averaging” option when selecting multiple image files for analysis using Imatest’s Fixed Modules. This trick works for all analyses in Imatest.

Similarly, for analyses based on Regions of Interest (ROI) which are scale-invariant, such as the preferred MTF-measuring slanted edge technique, increasing the area of the ROI around the slanted edge you analyze in an image increases the number of independent random samples used. In general, you want to select as large a window around a slanted edge as possible given the chart and staying within the desired region of the image field (since MTF generally varies around the field). This trick does not work for tests that have a fixed feature size in an image, such as Siemens-stars and hyperbolic wedges.

Ensure adequate signal level via chart contrast (but not too much)

For sharpness measurements, the signal that you want to measure is related to the amount of contrast in the image. The more contrast you have, the higher the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the less effect noise will have on results. There can be too much of a good thing, however: as the pixels in your sensor reach the point of saturation, clipping, or non-linear response regions, unrealistic increases in sharpness will occur.  The ISO 12233:2014 standard specifies a test chart edge printed at 4:1 contrast in order to prevent this saturation for most systems.

The slanted edge signal level is intimately tied to the contrast of the light and dark sides of the edge. There is an optimal range of contrast for slanted edges that you should try to achieve in order to obtain reliable results. This partially involves choosing a chart appropriate for your test setup.

Increasing the contrast in the outer regions of a test chart, which are most impacted by shading, is one technique for increasing signal level. When ordering charts from Imatest, you can request customizations such as this as appropriate.

Be aware of the effects of processing an image

Some devices tested with Imatest can produce raw images that have not been processed by software after capture. In such cases, Imatest can provide accurate measurements of the combined system of lens and sensor. Whenever a camera device processes an image prior to input to Imatest the effects of that processing can be observed, studied, and understood, but cannot be ignored.

When an image is converted to an 8-bit (24-bit color) JPEG from a higher bit-depth sensor, noise increases slightly due to quantization. The noise increase can be worse (“banding” can appear) if extensive image manipulation (dodging and burning) is required. It is often best to convert to 16-bit (48-bit color) files. Processing also often includes sharpening, which can increase the relative power of noise at higher frequencies.

A final caveat on processed images is that many consumer cameras (especially mobile device cameras) use non-linear noise reduction (such as bilateral filtering), which may smooth out images noise on slanted edge targets but also reduce texture detail. (Side note: Averaging multiple images as suggested above will not work when non-linear processing such as this is involved.) In such a case, slanted edge measurements may not tell the whole story of sharpness, and a random (texture analysis) chart may be more appropriate.

Ensure a better exposure

Lower light environments often necessitate higher ISO speeds in order to get a good exposure, which leads to increased sensor noise and variation. Ensuring a good photographic exposure can reduce both photon shot noise and the relative effect of sensor noise in an image. The two primary ways of increasing exposure values (though be careful to keep the light areas below the saturation level of your sensor, as mentioned above!) are:

  1. Increase the amount of light reflected by the chart by increasing the brightness of your light source
  2. Increasing the exposure time to gather more light, as long as the camera and target are both stationary

Select a repeatable measurement

The shape of an MTF curve gets perturbed in the presence of noise. It is often impractical to compare two full MTF curves or to include one in a report, so engineers often reduce the information about the curve to one or two summary metrics. These are meant to convey the most important information about the curve in a single number. Common examples are:

  • MTF10, MTF30, and MTF50: the frequency values at which the MTF curve reaches 10%, 30%, and 50% of its normalized (DC) value respectively
  • MTF50P: the frequency value at which the MTF curve reaches 50 of its maximum value (which can be greater than the value of 1 found in DC if sharpening is present)
  • MTF at ¼ and ½ Nyquist: The MTF value at one half and one quarter the Nyquist sampling rate (0.125 and 0.25 cycles/pixel, respectively).
  • MTF Area: The area under the MTF curve from DC to 0.5 cycles/pixel, usually with the curve normalized to peak at a value of 1. (Less common.)

These are illustrated below on a synthetic, noise-free MTF curve example. The MTF Area value is the integral of the light red region under the curve.

MTF Curve

The value of each of these metrics will change slightly for each different realization of noise (i.e., each photograph you take of the slanted edge), but some metric values tend to be less stable (have more variance) in the presence of noise. It is important to make sure you are using a metric that embodies the MTF characteristic you care about but is also repeatable considering the amount of noise you might expect to encounter.

Shown below is a set of 10 different MTF curves calculated (using Imatest’s SFR module) from a set of simulated slanted-edge images. Our simulation process involved generating a slanted edge at 5 degrees (bilinear interpolation), applying a Gaussian blur kernel, adding white gaussian pixel-wise noise (a different instance per curve below), and applying sharpening using an unsharp masking technique. Overlaid on the family of MTF curves are boxplots (handy plots that succinctly represent the important statistics of an entire population, in this case, 100 simulations using the above process) corresponding to the different summary metrics.

repeatability

The most important aspect of these boxes for this discussion is the length of each of them, which represents how much variance each metric shows over the population of noisy edge images. (Lengths of vertically oriented metrics have been compensated for different axis scales in this image to allow visual comparison with horizontally plotted ones.) Note that MTF50 and MTF50P have smaller amounts of variance than the similarly common MTF30, MTF10. MTF at ½ and ¼ Nyquist vary in a different scale since they have different units than the previously mentioned metrics, with the latter being significantly more affected by noise. MTF Area has the least variance, though this is also on a different scale and has a different relationship to sharpness. (We will study the suitability of MTF Area, which is a very promising though not commonly used metric, in the future post.)

The plots below further show how the different MTF metrics vary at different levels of sharpening and noise. The standard deviation of each, σmetric, is calculated for each metric at each noise level over 100 random instances. The original simulated slanted edge test image was valued between [0, 255] and with 4:1 contrast.

no sharpening line graph

moderate sharpening line graphStrong sharpening line graph

 

 

 

 

The above figures display the expected general trends of increasing variability for all metrics, both with increasing noise and increasing levels of sharpening. Interestingly, the ordering of the metrics by variability is essentially constant across all levels of noise and sharpening. Another interesting note is that MTF10 and MTF at ½ Nyquist are especially sensitive to sharpening- their variability jumps the most when sharpening is applied. These two metrics are also generally the most variable overall, while MTF Area is the most consistent.

When choosing a metric to use to report the sharpness of an imaging system, it is important to keep in mind how susceptible reported values are to variation due to random noise. By using a more stable summary metric value, you can ensure repeatability of your results in future tests.

 

 

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A customizable image quality solution for Security camera testing https://www.imatest.com/2018/08/customizable-image-quality-solution-for-security-cameras/ https://www.imatest.com/2018/08/customizable-image-quality-solution-for-security-cameras/#respond Mon, 27 Aug 2018 18:45:55 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=23339 We now offer a complete, customizable image quality testing solution for security camera systems to provide our customers with an easy, effective way to outfit their labs. While working with some of the top security camera manufacturers, our engineers have compiled all of the necessary lab materials in a convenient package. The package includes options for software; reflective, transmissive, tunable, and ultra-wide light sources; test fixtures for a variety of fields-of-view and focus distances; and applicable test charts to analyze crucial image quality factors.

Software

The Security package includes two software options, Master and Ultimate. The Master version, designed for R&D testing, is a robust analysis tool to help you measure any and every image quality factor of your camera system. The Ultimate version combines Master and IT, an automated production line testing version, and is a cost-effective solution for customers who manage R&D and production testing. Read more about our software version and license options here.

Test Fixtures

We include several test fixtures that help test varying fields-of-view (FOV) and focus distances properly. For ultra-wide testing with fields-of-view up to 270˚, our Ultra-Wide Test Fixture works perfectly to help analyze image quality factors such as sharpness and chromatic aberration using our eSFR ISO and SFRreg charts. If you have long-range testing requirements, we’ve included several collimator lenses and target projection systems to help you to test at or beyond your focusing distance. To automate and provide more flexible positioning, add one of the robotic automation fixtures from our partners Sofica and IQL.

Light Sources

Choose from a variety of reflective, transmissive, tunable, and ultra-wide lighting system options. We have included our most widely used reflective light source; the Kino Flo FreeStyle 31 LED DMX for its adjustability, portability, and high-illumination output. To test dynamic range, and high-resolution systems, select a uniform, transmissive LED light box with Lux levels ranging from 10,000 – 100,000. The brightest lightbox enables you to achieve IEC 62676 compliance. For the most adjustability in spectral and Lux levels, and for ultra-wide field-of-view uniformity testing, choose one of our tunable light sources such as the wide-FOV version of the Gamma Scientific RS-7.

Test Charts

To make your selections easier, we have included the most appropriate test charts to meet a variety of requirements for security cameras. For reflective resolution needs, select from our ISO 12233:2014 compliant multi-feature test charts, a Checkboard chart, or sinusoidal siemens star pattern chart. For use with the transmissive, uniform light sources and dynamic range and high-resolution testing, choose to use our ISO 12233:2014 chart printed on High-Precision LVT Film, and our Ultra-High Dynamic Range test chart.

View the package, the options included, and receive a quote by visiting our store.

Check It Out Now

Of course, we know that not everyone’s requirements are the same, so if the package doesn’t seem to be a good fit for you talk to a solution expert and we will customize a solution for your unique needs.

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Introducing Imatest 5.1 https://www.imatest.com/2018/07/introducing-imatest-5-1/ https://www.imatest.com/2018/07/introducing-imatest-5-1/#respond Fri, 27 Jul 2018 18:09:19 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=23023 Our engineers are continually adding new features and updating Imatest software to provide you with the best analysis tool on the market. In our most recent release, our team has added several new modules to provide you better analysis tools. Here are the top three new features, and why should upgrade to Imatest 5.1:

  • Compensate for chart MTF to perform accurate high-resolution or close-distance sharpness tests

MTF Compensation reduces the impact of the chart on measured imaging system MTF.

  • Geometrically calibrate single or multi-camera devices obtaining camera intrinsic and extrinsic matrices for accurate machine vision and ADAS applications

A geometrically calibrated device provides a mapping between pixel coordinates and real-world position.

  • Direct image acquisition for Sony sensors

Imatest now supports direct image acquisition from Sony sensor development boards through the Sony AYA software tool.

 

Learn More

 

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Five reasons to use Imatest 5.0 https://www.imatest.com/2017/09/five-reasons-use-imatest-5-0/ https://www.imatest.com/2017/09/five-reasons-use-imatest-5-0/#respond Thu, 21 Sep 2017 18:47:53 +0000 http://www.imatest.com/?p=20050 This week, we launched Imatest 5.0. We built Imatest 5.0 to provide users with a streamlined workflow for more efficient image quality analysis. Here are five reasons to start using Imatest 5.0 today.

Refined User Experience

Imatest 5.0 features several new tools and enhancements across our products to help you improve your workflow. Whether you want to reduce the number of images needed for complete system qualification with Arbitrary Charts; process a collection of images with automated analysis routines within the brand new Test Manager, or process batches of images with our enhanced image processing module, Imatest 5.0 is an improved experience for users needing an expedited testing process.

Innovative Image Quality Measurements

The newest release provides several new and enhanced measurements to help your focus on the image quality factors that matter to your business’ camera system.

  • Contrast Resolution was designed for the visualization and measurement of contrast separation. This is particularly important for the automotive industry where camera systems need to distinguish between low contrast objects in a larger field with varying ranges of brightness.
  • The ISO 18844 flare measurement added to the Uniformity module was created to address the need to accurately measure veiling glare.
  • The enhancements to the SFRreg Center Chart provides geometric utilities for measuring tilt and rotational measurements, an especially important factor for users needing to test wide-angled measurements.

Measuring Contrast Resolution using Multicharts.

Focus on the image quality factors that matter most

Imatest tools serve many industries with widely varying requirements, for example testing an automotive camera system is different from testing a consumer device. Even within one industry, companies need to test several image quality factors on several test charts, complicating the capture analysis workflow. Imatest 5.0 lets you zero in on the image quality factors and results that matter most to your business.

  • Customizable reports allows users to more efficiently filter and present select image quality data from a variety of image quality factors.
  • The new arbitrary charts functionality serves a similar purpose by letting users define efficient layouts of analysis features within one chart.

Enhanced support for industry standards

Industry standards provide a foundation for the testing and analysis of imaging systems and clearly define testing methods for reliable measurements of system performance. Imatest 5.0 goes along way to support and supplement industry testing standards.

Run predefined test plans for standard testing procedures such as CPIQ within the new Test Manager.

The new P1858 Variant Combo chart, supported by Arbitrary Charts, combines several analysis features  required by the standard into one chart. This enables users to minimize the number of images needed in the testing process and increases testing efficiency and accuracy.

Imatest 5.0 also features an enhanced Uniformity module to support the ISO 18844 standard for image flare measurements on digital cameras. The standard was created to address some of the difficulties of making ISO 9358 measurements with cameras.

P1858 Variant Combo chart

Streamlined Product Line

The Imatest 5.0 release includes the streamlining of the Imatest product line. As of Imatest 5.0, Imatest Master will now includes image acquisition capabilities that were previously available in Imatest IS, which is now discontinued. Imatest users will now have access to the acquisition library. The library supports direct acquisition from a wide range of frame grabbers and cameras, as well as industry standard interfaces like CameraLink, GigE Vision, and USB through DirectShow (Windows) or QuickTime (OS X). Direct image acquisition cuts out several steps in the image quality testing process and allows for in-the-loop testing with Imatest.

In order to maximize performance in the new Test Manager, we utilized parallel processing. Previously, parallel processing was only available in Imatest IT-P. With the release of Imatest 5.0, Imatest IT-P functionality is now included in Imatest IT . This enables all Imatest users to rapidly process large volumes of images. By utilizing high-performance processors with 6+ cores, parallel processing can improve throughput by over 2.5x.

Learn MoreStart Free Trial

 

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