US 10,375,385 B1 · Video timing test equipment for measuring light integration time of a camera

Abstract

A video timing test equipment for measuring light integration time of a camera. The video timing test equipment may comprise: a control unit and shutter timing test unit. The control unit may generate input timing signals adjustable by a user. The shutter timing test unit may comprise a single timing light emitting diode (LED), a single timing infrared (IR) LED, and an output controller. The output controller may regulate the illumination of the timing LED and timing IR LED based on the input timing signals. The shutter timing test unit may also comprise a UTC time display, edge time display, and pulse width display. The UTC time display may depict a UTC time as to when light integration begins or ends. The edge time display may depict an offset time associated with the start or end of light integration. The pulse width display may depict the duration of light integration.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A video timing test equipment for measuring light integration time of a camera under test, comprising:

a control unit capable of generating a plurality of input timing signals adjustable by a user;
and
a shutter timing test unit operatively coupled to said control unit, said shutter timing test unit comprising:
a single timing light emitting diode (LED);
and
an output controller capable of regulating an illumination of said single timing LED by generating a timing LED output signal associated with said single timing LED;
wherein said timing LED output signal is adjusted by said user based on said plurality of input timing signals.

4 more elements

A method for measuring light integration time of a camera under test using a video timing test equipment, the steps comprising:

providing a video timing test equipment, comprising:
a shutter timing test unit and a control unit;
wherein said shutter timing test unit comprises:
a single timing LED;
and
an output controller capable of regulating an illumination of said single timing LED by generating a timing LED output signal associated with said single timing LED, said timing LED output signal being adjusted based on a plurality of input timing signals;
wherein said control unit is operatively coupled to said shutter timing test unit and is capable of generating said plurality of input timing signals adjustable by a user, said plurality of input timing signals being associated with:
(i) a frame rate of said illumination of said single timing LED;
(ii) an offset time of said start and said end of light integration;
and
(iii) a pulse width time of said timing LED output signal;
positioning said shutter timing test unit in view of a camera under test, such that, a monitor in video communication with said camera under test displays a video image of said single timing LED of said shutter timing test unit;
determining said end of light integration by:
adjusting said frame rate of said single timing LED to correspond with a frame rate of said camera under test;
adjusting said pulse width time of said timing LED output signal to correspond with a fractional value of a full exposure time of said camera under test;
adjusting said offset time to an initial reference value of said end of light integration;
while viewing said single timing LED on said monitor:
(a) adjusting said offset time forward in first incremental units until said single timing LED illuminates intermittently, wherein each of said first incremental units corresponds to a duration of said pulse width time;
(b) adjusting said offset time backwards in second incremental units until said single timing LED remains illuminated, wherein each of said second incremental units corresponds to a fractional value less than said first incremental units;
and
(c) adjusting said offset time forward in third incremental units until said single timing LED does not illuminate to determine a final reference value of said end of light integration, wherein each of said third incremental units corresponds to a fractional value less than said second incremental units;
and
determining said end of light integration by calculating a time difference between said initial reference value and said final reference value of said end of light integration.

20 more elements

A method for measuring light integration time of an IR camera under test with a video timing test equipment, the steps comprising:

providing a video timing test equipment, comprising:
a shutter timing test unit and a control unit;
wherein said shutter timing test unit comprises:
a single timing IR LED;
and
an output controller capable of regulating an illumination of said single timing IR LED by generating a timing LED output signal associated with said single timing IR LED, said timing LED output signal being adjusted based on a plurality of input timing signals;
wherein said control unit is operatively coupled to said shutter timing test unit and is capable of generating said plurality of input timing signals adjustable by a user, said plurality of input timing signals being associated with:
(i) a frame rate of said illumination of said single timing IR LED;
(ii) an offset time of said start and said end of light integration;
and
(iii) a pulse width time of said timing LED output signal;
positioning said shutter timing test unit in view of an IR camera under test, such that, a monitor in video communication with said IR camera displays a video image of said single timing IR LED of said shutter timing test unit;
determining said end of light integration by:
adjusting said frame rate of said single timing IR LED to correspond with a frame rate of said IR camera under test;
adjusting said pulse width time of said timing LED output signal to correspond with a fractional value of a full exposure time of said camera under test;
adjusting said offset time to an initial reference value of said end of light integration;
while viewing said single timing IR LED on said monitor:
(a) adjusting said offset time forward in first incremental units until said single timing IR LED illuminates intermittently, wherein each of said first incremental units corresponds to a duration of said pulse width time;
(b) adjusting said offset time backwards in second incremental units until said single timing IR LED remains illuminated, wherein each of said second incremental units corresponds to a fractional value less than said first incremental units;
and
(c) adjusting said offset time forward in third incremental units until said single timing IR LED does not illuminate to determine a final reference value for said end of light integration, wherein each of said third incremental units corresponds to a fractional value less than said second incremental units;
and
determining said end of light integration by calculating a time difference between said initial reference value and said final reference value of said end of light integration.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video timing test equipment for measuring light integration time of a camera

Life of this patent

Video timing test equipment for measuring light integration time of a camera

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20