Led-based spectrally tunable light source for camera characterization

Abstract

In this study, a LED-based spectrally tunable light source is introduced and used for camera spectral sensitivity characterization. Three different camera types containing 1-, 3-, and 7- spectral channels were selected and tested under designed characterization instrument. The light source is based on narrowband light emitting diodes arranged in a circles. The system includes 46 spectral channels from 380nm to 950nm, where due to designed control board each channel is controllable with 8 bit resolution. The study was performed in terms of the sensor spectral sensitivity and final results are compared against data obtained by characterization system consisting of integrating sphere and a monochromator with a halogen light source. The preliminary results are promising. In conclusion, the developed LED-based spectrally tunable light source can be used as a lowcost, fast, and portable device for camera characterization.