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CamTest

Complete performance testing of camera modules

The increased demand for complex camera and lidar systems used in automated object recognition and classification, for instance in the safety & surveillance sector and automotive industry (keywords: autonomous driving and driver assistance systems), has resulted in new and more stringent requirements for the characterization of image quality and the assembly of camera modules. The entire test chain for optical systems, sensor components and complete camera systems must meet these new requirements. With the CamTest series, TRIOPTICS offers the matching technologies and benefits from its long-standing experience in optical testing and complements them with new measurement systems for opto-electric and opto-mechanical parameters.

Product Overview

CamTest Smart

The most versatile measuring system

Complete optical performance test of cameras

CamTest Smart is an end-of-line test system that enables comprehensive testing of camera modules. With the help of focusing collimators, a test chart and an integrating sphere integrated in only one device, the End-of-Line test can be realized.

  • Testing of all essential image quality characteristics of camera modules in just one system

  • Flexibility with regard to different camera types

  • Flexible low to mid volume production and R&D

  • Fully automated process

  • MTF, LSF, SFR, ESF
  • Image Plane Tilt, Defocus, DOF
  • Boresight Shift, Roll Angle
  • Optical Centre
  • Distortion, EFL
  • Defect Pixel, Particle, FPN
  • OECF, Dynamic Range, White Balance, SNR
  • Relative Illumination
  • Color Rendering, Crosstalk
  • Spectral Response

CamTest TempControl

Camera module temperature tests

Camera module temperature tests

CamTest TempControl determines the image quality of optical sensor systems under the influence of temperature. The instrument simulates the real temperature conditions in a climatic chamber.

  • Highly accurate measurement in a temperature range between -40°C and +120°C

  • Individually configurable and automated measurement routines

  • Comprehensive analyses of camera behaviour to identify product optimisations.

  • Measurement data (e.g., focus position or image plane tilt) at different temperatures and their effects on the image quality are stored in a database.

  • High flexibility: Different sensor formats (such as 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and many more), different spectra (VIS, NIR, LWIR) and changeable measurement positions.

CamTest Focus

Determination of best focus plane

Determination of best focus plane

The collimator virtually projects the target onto the sample. By using focusable collimators, any object distance of 1m to infinity can be generated. This makes it possible to measure the position and tilt of the best focus plane.

  • the setup provides a field of view of +/-90°

  • variable object distance from finite to infinite in just one measurement setup

  • measurement of various parameters such as: MTF, SFR, through-focus MTF, image plane tilt, boresight shift, roll angle

CamTest Chart

Easy measurement of distortion

Easy measurement of distortion

The CamTest Chart system projects a test target from finite or infinit object distance to the camera module under test. For an infinite test setup a specially designed relay optic is used. With the help of a suitable optical structure, cameras with a highly distorted optical system can also be calibrated.

  • Measurement of: camera lens geometric distortion (LGD), TV distortion, camera boresight and optical center, camera EFL and FOV.

  • From the distortion measurement the distortion coeffecients (Seidel coefficients) are obtained used for the calibration of the camera module under test

  • Especially relevant for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)

  • The relay optic is available as an upgrade

CamTest Spectral

Determination of sensor parameters

Determination and testing of sensor parameters

The CamTest Spectral comes with an integrating sphere in finite object distance. The integrating sphere serves as a light source in order to obtain the diffuse light required for the measurements.

  • Measurements of camera modules with up to 160° field of view

  • The sphere allows a light uniformity of more than 95 %

  • The setup is particularly well-suited for measuring parameters such as defect pixels, FPN, color rendering, OECF, relative illumination and dynamic range.

CamTest MTF

One-shot MTF measurement

One-shot MTF measurement for camera modules

In order to test camera modules with larger object distances, a structure with fixed collimators, which are preset for infinite or finite object distances, is suitable. In this case, the field of view depends on the actual object distance.

  • With this set-up, the MTF can be quickly and easily determined

  • Furthermore, also Line Spread Function, SFR and ESF can be measured

  • This method is escpecially suitable for a final quality check in high volume camera production.

CamTest ColMot 2.0

Optical target projectors for the performance test of electronic camera modules

Optical target projector for performance test of electronic camera modules or objective lenses. Test of camera image quality, lens alignment and focus precision.

The CamTest ColMot system is a series of industry-leading optical target projectors providing virtual test targets for the performance test of electronic camera modules or objective lenses. The main application is the test for camera image quality, lens alignment and focus precision.

  • Compact design for dense field of view (FOV) coverage

  • Infinite conjugate testing for very wide FOV cameras

  • For measurement of MTF/ SFR, through-focus MTF/ SFR, image plane tilt, camera boresight, focus setting and roll angle

  • High speed and high positioning repeatability

The CamTest ColMot series is characterised by special robustness and reliability in industrial grade. Another important feature is the closed-loop control for target position and luminance level. A large variety of LED illumination sources, target patterns as well as a software development kit (SDK) and drivers are available. Accurate factory calibration is another advantage of the CamTest ColMot series.

The portfolio includes the following effective focal lengths (EFL): 16 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm and 150 mm.

CamTest ColMot 6.0

New optical target projectors for high-speed camera testing

Optical target projector for high level performance test of camera modules and objetive lenses

The new CamTest ColMot 6.0 is characterized by a very long product lifetime, high speed for fast measurement and short cycle times. It is very user-friendly and has improved maintainability with an integrated cycle counter, temperature sensor and internal data storage of collimator-specific data.

  • Extended product lifetime

  • The most compact design for dense field of view (FOV) coverage

  • Highest speed for fast measurements and short cycle times

  • High positioning repeatability and accuracy

The CamTest ColMot series is characterised by special robustness and reliability in industrial grade. Another important feature is the closed-loop control for target position and luminance level. A large variety of LED illumination sources, target patterns as well as a software development kit (SDK) and drivers are available. Accurate factory calibration is another advantage of the CamTest ColMot series.

The portfolio includes the following effective focal lengths (EFL): 16 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm and 150 mm.

CamTest ColMot 6.0 is particularly suitable for equipping fully automated production and test facilities at the highest productivity level.

CamTest LWIR collimators

Long-wave length infrared collimators for the production of thermal imaging cameras

Automated manufacturing and testing of thermal imaging cameras

The first edition of CamTest LWIR collimators enables automated mass production of thermal imaging cameras. For manufacturers of thermal imaging, thermographic or infrared cameras used in the military and in the surveillance of buildings, industrial plants or people.

  • Making the invisible visible with the LWIR collimators in infrared technology

  • Wavelength range: 7 -12 μm

  • Effective focal length (EFL): 50 mm, 200 mm or 500 mm

  • 5-axis Controller manages and monitors the lighting, the shutter and the fan

The LWIR collimators are characterised by a special compactness. This allows integration into different dome configurations for simultaneous measurement of the camera’s entire field of view at different ROIs. Cooling is provided via fan. A specific reticle for the LWIR and focal length range as well as a homogeneous collimated light source are available. Controller with safety PLC enables monitoring of the collimators and safety-related connection to the automation system.

CamTest R&D

High-precision image quality test

High-precision image quality test for cameras

The CamTest R&D is a high-precision measurement device for testing a variety of image quality parameters of camera modules. The computercontrolled test target distance can be freely selected from finite distances to infinity using a focusing collimator.

  • available for various wavelength ranges (VIS, NIR and LWIR)

  • can be used for many types of camera modules

  • ideal solution for comprehensive measurement tasks in the R&D environment

  • wide off-axis angle range of up to +/- 110°

The basic setup of the CamTest R&D is based on the proven ImageMaster® HR, the industry standard for testing the image quality of lenses. Consequently, existing ImageMaster® HR instruments can be upgraded to CamTest R&D devices.

Applications

Today, the increased demand for complex camera systems used in safety-related and automated object recognition and classification, for instance in the automotive industry (keywords: autonomous driving and driver assistance systems), has resulted in new and more stringent requirements for the characterization of image quality of camera modules.
The entire test chain for optical systems, sensor components and complete camera systems must meet these new requirements. To accomplish this, TRIOPTICS offers the matching technologies and benefits from its long-standing experience in optical testing and complements them with new measurement systems for opto-electric and opto-mechanical parameters.

Plug & produce Kollimator Dom

Lane assistance

Plug & produce Kollimator Dom

Driver monitoring

Plug & produce Kollimator Dom

Traffic sign recognition

CamTest systems are used to test a wide range of automotive applications, including

  • Driver monitoring cameras in NIR spectral range
  • Nightview in LWIR spectral range
  • Distortion calibration of fisheye camera and image stitching applications (surround view)
  • Color reproduction and spectral sensitivity for traffic light, front and back light recognition

The following features can be measured

  • Optical characteristics, such as distortion, vignetting and image contrast / MTF
  • Opto-mechanical characteristics including the focus position of the image sensor in relation to the lens, the boresight or roll angle
  • Opto-electric characteristics, e. g. defective pixels, image noise, linearity and color reprodution
CamTest-Focus-focusing

Software

CamTest Software

The software is particularly user-friendly. The user is automatically guided through the measurement process. The output of the values can be done as pass/fail output. Measurement certificates are generated directly from the software in order to ensure complete traceability. The CamTest software supports the following measurement parameters and their analysis:

  • Image quality features (MTF)

  • Optomechanical properties: sensor position (tilt, rotation, defocusing)

  • Other optical parameters: distortion, relative illumination, focal length

  • Color characteristics: chromatic aberrations

  • Lens light reflection

Technical Data

ParameterCamTest R&DCamTest MTF CamTest Focus CamTest Chart CamTest Spectral CamTest Smart
Field of viewUp to ±90° (up to ±110° after individual clarification)Up to ±70°
diagonal field of view
(up to ±90° after
individual clarification)
Up to ±70°
diagonal field of view
(up to ±90° after
individual clarification)
Up to ±35°
diagonal field of view
(up to ±50° after
individual clarification)
Up to ±70°
diagonal field of view
(up to ±80° after
individual clarification)
Depending on the instrument configuration and up to 3 possible integrated measuring chambers (MTF, Focus, Chart or Spectral)
Standard illumination
wavelength
(others on request)
White LED with PE-Filter
RGB LED: 625 nm/520 nm/470 nm
940 nm & 850 nm
White LED
colour temperature
6500 K
White LED
colour temperature
6500 K
Backlit LED green
narrow spectrum
Adjustable spectrum
420 nm … 780 nm
Sample EFL (Effective
Focal Length)
1.8 mm … 16 mm 1)1 mm … 12 mm 1)1.8 mm … 12 mm 1)1 mm … 12 mm 1)1 mm … 12 mm 1)
Object distance0.5 m to infinityInfinity1000 mm … infinity Finite / infinite 1000 mm … infinity
Typ. measurement time2 s … 1 min
(Depending on the number of different parameters to be measured)
< 2 s< 15 s< 5 s < 5 s particle & defect pixel,
< 5 s shading,
< 10 s OECF,
< 15 s spectral response
Sample diameter /
Free aperture
n.a.n.a. / < 5 mmn.a. / < 5 mmn.a. / < 5 mm2 mm … 20 mm / n.a.
Camera interfaceSoftware Development Kit provided enabling to connect
customer camera with own framegrabber to all standard interfaces
(either MIPI, analog or directly to e. g. USB, FireWire, CamLink, GigE).
TypeStand alone
Dimensions
(h x w x d)
2,000 mm x 800 mm x 1,500 mm2,150 mm x 1,120 mm x 875 mm2,159 mm x 1,740 mm x 1,226 mm
Weight (approx.)300 kgUp to 350 kg750 kg
Power consumptionmax. 1300 Wtyp. 100 W … 500 W300 W … 1000 W
Voltage100 … 130 VAC oder 220 … 230 VAC100 … 130 VAC or 220 … 230 VAC
Compressed air 5 bar … 7 bar (optional for sample fixation)
External Communication InterfaceTCP - IP TCP - IP
OPC - UA

1) EFL outside the specified ranges possible, after testing the lens characteristics

ParameterCamTest TempControl
Temperature range-40°C to +120°C
Temperature accuracy temporal±0,3°C to ±1°C
Temperature change speed4°C/min
Weight300 kg
Outer dimensions (h x w x d)1900 x 954 x 780 mm³
Inner dimensions (h x w x d)400 x 400 x 320 mm³
Window sizeØ 200 mm

Knowledge Base

Image quality testing of mass-produced camera modules

Image quality testing of complete cameras and assembled camera modules is done by imaging a suitable target using the camera module under test and evaluating the quality of the reproduction of the target. New approaches for testing methodologies are required to keep up with technological developments and economic pressure. Most of these can also be used in a similar fashion for all other camera testing applications, from high-end scientific to thermal imaging surveillance cameras.

Most consumer-type camera modules are integrated into devices such as smartphones and webcams and use relatively short-focal-length (1 to 5 mm), wide-field-of-view optics and either CCD or CMOS color sensors.

The parameters typically extracted during testing of such a module can broadly be classified into five categories: image quality via the modulation transfer function, the spatial frequency response; properties of the optical system (e.g., distortion, relative illumination); optomechanical properties (e.g., relative alignment of the optics and the sensor or autofocus precision); color properties (e.g., color rendition, white balance); and sensor properties (e.g., dynamic range, linearity, noise, bad pixels). For modules incorporating flash capabilities, the alignment, illumination profile and intensity of the flash unit can be characterized as well. We will focus on the first three topics .

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Finite testing

Although most camera modules are designed to be used with the object at a larger distance (infinite conjugate), conventional testing techniques usually place a test target with various patterns – typically a test chart – at a shorter distance (finite conjugate) from the module.

Today, testing with test charts in finite distance is standard, done by image analysis software in real time.
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a test chart system in finite configuration. The device under test (DUT) is placed in front of an illuminated chart with different markers and patterns on it. An image is then taken with the DUT, and software algorithms analyze the position and shape of the markers, and extract the performance parameters of the camera module.

A modified version of this setup incorporates a relay lens in between sample and chart to create a virtual image of the chart as seen from infinite distance. This approach usually requires a custom, high-quality relay lens, especially for larger-field-of-view applications and broadband (e.g., daylight) illumination, which can make such a setup complex and commercially unviable. This solution should be used only if infinity conjugate measurement and a more complex chart evaluation are required.

This test chart technology is relatively easy to deploy and combines a high density of measurement points with the ability to use different types of markers and patterns on different field positions of a single chart. It is typically used for sensor resolutions of up to 13 MP and testing in finite or close-to-infinite distances. However, because of recent advances in manufacturing technology, this technology reaches its limits as the industry moves to sensor resolutions of 13 MP and higher, which tightens the requirements on optics and the alignment of the individual components of the module.

Common precision and repeatability bottlenecks include the need for high homogeneity of the illumination over a large area, edge contrast and precision of the patterns on the test charts, and the required reproducible spectral distribution lighting, which is usually done with LEDs.

The size of the test instrument is another important factor in a production environment: For the wide-angle, large-field-of-view optics typically found in consumer camera modules, a large test chart is required. The larger the angular field of view, the larger the test chart must be for a given finite object distance, which cannot be set too small for infinity-set fixed-focus objectives. The situation is similar for modules that have a focusing capability – in this case, shorter object distances can be used, but the setup does not properly reflect the final application. For large test charts, the corresponding large instrument requires more precious factory floor space.

camera testing with test chart

Testing using collimator domes

An alternative approach for testing camera modules with larger object distances between about 1 m and infinity is to use a set of collimators as target projectors where each measurement point on the image sensor is provided by a dedicated collimator. A collimator consists of an illuminated target structure (the reticle) in the focal plane of an objective lens. The collimator projects the target virtually onto the DUT (Figure 2). The collimators can be either fixed-focus with preset infinity or finite object distances, or they can be motorized for variable object distances.
The collimators are arranged in space so that the optical axes meet at the entrance pupil of the DUT. Different off-axis angles then correspond to different image positions on the DUT sensor, with on-axis being the center position on the sensor.Although this setup is more complex than a test chart setup, it offers several advantages and higher flexibility for testing at different object distances.
Figure 3 shows a typical collimator arrangement with nine collimators, all pointing into the entrance pupil of the DUT below (not shown). The spherical dome support allows the adjustment of the collimators to different object angles

KnowledgeBase CamTest Ansatz zur Prüfung
KnowledgeBase CamTest

Advantages of testing with collimators

  • It can be used as a “true” infinite setup, with the DUT being tested under the same conditions as in the final application. This setup is quite insensitive to the actual positioning of the collimators, as the field positions are determined only by the angles between the collimators.
  • The test chamber is compact, with the outer dimensions independent of the DUT field of view, so it uses less factory floor and is easier to manage. In fact, the mechanically closest distance of the collimators should be used.
  • It is less sensitive to stray light, and the reticle illumination can be better controlled – which, in turn, leads to better repeatability.
  • By using motorized collimators that can be focused, arbitrary object distances from approximately 1 m to infinity can be generated. This makes it possible to test the focusing of fixed- and autofocus modules. It is further important for the high-precision active alignment technology.

Additional tests: business as usual

Besides the setups for measurement of image quality and optomechanical parameters discussed, other parameters are typically characterized for camera modules: These relate to color (e.g., white balance, color rendition, spectral sensitivity, etc.); sensor characteristics (linearity, sensitivity, image noise, opto-electronic coversion function, bad pixels, etc.); or additional optical parameters such as distortion or veiling glare

The potential of active alignment

The image acquisition and transfer time for most camera modules is short, so the data obtained from the DUT also can be used in production to proactively and automatically align the optics and sensor to each other in a real-time, closed-loop process so that the combination delivers the highest possible performance. Besides the simple three-axis alignment for focusing (Z) and centering (X-Y) of the sensor, rotation and, especially, sensor tilt relative to the image plane of the optics can be adjusted (Figure 4). The tilt adjustment becomes increasingly important for high-performance, high-resolution modules with short depth of focus to reach the required image quality. As sensor resolution increases and the required tolerances become smaller, the industry is forced to use automatic alignment systems instead of further reducing manufacturing tolerances.
Depending on the application, either a collimator arrangement or a finite test chart is used to provide the required information for the multiaxis active alignment system. To fix the achieved camera alignment, a glue dispenser with UV light curing can be embedded into the system, making the instrument a fully automated fabrication station for camera modules.

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