Optical detector calibrator system

A method for calibrating an optically responsive detector comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a device for emitting optical radiation in a range of wavelengths to which an optically responsive detector to be calibrated is responsive, said device being provided with means for adjusting the intensity of the emitted radiation to simulate a radiation source at varying distances from said optically responsive detector to be calibrated;
• b) positioning said optically responsive detector to be calibrated adjacent said device in a position so that said optically responsive detector will receive said radiation emitted by said device;
• c) causing said device to emit said optical radiation toward said detector of an intensity level which simulates said radiation source at a predetermined simulated distance from said detector;
• d) determining whether said detector responds to said emitted radiation within a predetermined period of time;
• e) if said detector responds to said emitted radiation within said predetermined period of time, then decreasing the intensity of the emitted radiation by an incremental amount to a new intensity level to simulate an incremental increase in the simulated distance between said radiation source and the detector;
• f) repeating steps d) and e) at each new intensity level until said detector no longer responds within said predetermined period of time;
• and
• g) providing an indication of the maximum simulated distance to which said detector responds within said predetermined period of time.

A method for calibrating an optically responsive detector comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a device for emitting optical radiation in a range of wavelengths to which an optically responsive detector to be calibrated is responsive, said device including:
• i) a housing;
• ii) a light source contained in said housing for emitting said optical radiation in said range of wavelengths to which said optically responsive detector to be calibrated is responsive;
• iii) a power supply selectively connectable to said light source for supplying current thereto;
• iv) an aperture in said housing for transmitting said radiation emitted by said light source toward said optically responsive detector to be calibrated that is positioned externally of said housing;
• v) a motor driven iris disposed in said housing between said light source and said aperture having an iris aperture which is adjustable between a first, minimum size and a second, maximum size for controllably varying the intensity of said radiation emitted from said housing by said light source;
• vi) a motor driven rotatable filter wheel disposed in said housing between said motor driven iris in said housing aperture, said filter wheel containing a plurality of spaced wheel apertures which are selectively positionable between said light source and said housing aperture, and having at least one of which contains an optical radiation intensity attenuating filter element;
• vii) a microprocessor disposed in said housing for controlling operation of said light source, said motor driven iris and said motor driven rotatable filter wheel;
• viii) an input device connected to said microprocessor for entering commands and data into said microprocessor;
• ix) an output device connected to said microprocessor for outputting test information and other data;
• and
• x) a memory device connected to said microprocessor for storing a program for controlling operation of said device;
• b) positioning said optically responsive detector to be calibrated adjacent said housing aperture so that said optically responsive detector will receive radiation emitted by said light source;
• and
• c) causing said microprocessor to adjust any combination of said current, said motor driven iris and said motor driven rotatable filter wheel as necessary to cause said device to emit said optical radiation from said housing aperture toward said detector of an intensity level which simulates a radiation source at a predetermined simulated distance from said detector.