Meridian® FLEX Camera Testing Platform (Patent Pending)

02 May 2018

The Meridian FLEX platform provides camera manufacturers and integrators with a powerful tool that’s flexible enough for the R&D lab and fast enough for production camera testing. At its heart is a high-speed high-precision robot that can place a target at any specified field point in a variety of different instrument configurations. 

There are two coordinate systems for precise target pointing: Cartesian (uncoupled pitch and yaw), and spherical polar (azimuth and zenith).  The Meridian^® FieldPoint software handles the complex math, so coordinate transforms are performed seamlessly.  The robot then points either the target projector at the Device Under Test (DUT), or points the DUT at the target projector.  And finally, there are split configurations in which one motion axis is assigned to the DUT and the other to the target projector. 

Selecting the appropriate configuration depends on the maximum field of view of the DUT, the DUT housing geometry, the size and proximity of adjacent support electronics, and convenience.   An important advantage of mounting the DUT to the robot is that it may then be pointed at optional stimulus stations other than the target projector, thereby enabling the assessment of parameters such as veiling glare, signal transfer function, and chromatic characteristics. 

The standard optical source for testing is a Meridian^® Focusing Target Projector (FTP), which is used in the measurement of Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and geometric imaging parameters such as distortion.   Prior to testing, an FTP of a focal length suitable for the DUT is mounted in the FLEX.  FTPs are easily interchanged, and mount into a small annular roll stage that serves to set an appropriate angle between the target edge and the sensor pixel array at each field position.  Future product offerings will include target projectors for measuring LWIR cameras.

Meridian FLEX with FieldPoint software will measure multiple optical parameters of cameras, including:

• Horizontal and vertical resolution (MTF)
• Through-focus MTF (with Focusing Target Projector)
• Geometric Distortion
• Focal Length
• Field of View
• Bore-sighting and roll (with special DUT Nest)
• Stray light type measurements (with optional stimulus source)
• Signal Transfer Function (with calibrated stimulus source)
• Chromatic Functions (with optional stimulus source)

Because so many aspects of the Meridian FLEX platform are configurable, and many parameters are coupled, specifications will vary. For example, a large DUT may shorten the travel range of one of the motions in a particular mode.  Given the number of configuration modes, there is usually more than one way of setting up for a particular DUT.  Optical specifications are determined by the FTP or other stimulus source that is used. 

Optikos^® engineers are always ready to answer specific questions about your DUT and the applicability of this platform for your testing needs. For more information, see Meridian® camera testing or contact us at sales@optikos.com

Meet the team at the Photonics West exhibition, 5th - 7th February 2019 booth 1041