ProMetric CCD Imaging Photometers & Colorimeters

Powerful, spatial light & colour measurements made simple

ProMetric imaging photometers and colorimeters from Radiant Imaging are powerful, CCD-based instruments that provide for increased productivity compared with traditional ‘spot’ photometers. A ProMetric photometer can measure the illuminance, luminance, luminous intensity or colour of literally millions of points simultaneously. Moreover, localised luminance and colour differences can be easily detected.

Applications for ProMetric imaging photometers are extremely varied, but the more popular include the characterisation of light sources, displays, LEDs and solid state lighting, vehicle lighting, road traffic and emergency signs and automotive and avionic instrument panels. In the near-field, the CCD photometer records the luminance emitted by the device under test. In the far-field, the camera measures the luminous intensity, or the illuminance of a beam pattern projected onto a screen. By entering the working distance into the instrument software, the measured spatial illuminance can be converted into a dataset comprising the luminous intensity versus angle, from which standard IES photometric files can be generated. For luminaire goniophotometry, we combine a ProMetric CCD photometer with a motorised goniometer stage (see: Near-Field Goniophotometer).

Four Models, One High Standard

The ProMetric family comprises four cameras, from the affordable PM-1000 & PM-1200 to the high performance PM-1400 & PM-1600 series. Review the ProMetric Selection Guide to learn more about the main attributes of the four models. Use the links above to jump to the relevant ProMetric camera page for further information.

Surely an Ordinary Video Camera is Just as Good?

Only if you want pretty pictures! Compared with ordinary video cameras, a ProMetric CCD photometer or colorimeter provides for fully distortion-corrected measurements of absolute brightness and colour. The sensitivity and dynamic range of most of our models exceeds the ability of the human eye to resolve brightness and colour differences which means that measurements performed using a ProMetric instrument correlate closely with human visual assessment. This is important: the more limited dynamic range of ordinary video cameras (typically 8 bits) results in them being blind to the sort of defects and blemishes that can blight flat panel displays, exactly the type of defects which are clearly visible to the naked eye.

What About Software?

Good question. With literally millions of data points per measurement, you need sophisticated software to yield meaningful data. Each ProMetric imaging photometer comes with the powerful, Windows-based ProMetric software suite created by Radiant Imaging. This software provides extensive instrument control, data acquisition and image analysis capabilities. The software provides a simple, user-friendly interface to fully automated, pre-programmed capabilities. This enables production-line personnel and other operatives to perform sophisticated measurements and tests. However, built-in support for .Net and ActiveX controls allows the experienced user infinite scope to develop customised applications, and to perform automated testing using software such as VB.Net, VC#.Net, LabView, Matlab, VBA, and C++.

» Click here to learn more about PM software

Users of ProMetric version 9.1 or later can take advantage of the TrueMURA software module. TrueMURA adds advanced functionality to ProMetric software to enable the identification and classification of flat panel display mura which are correlated with human perception in terms of Just Noticeable Differences (JND).

» Click here to learn more about TrueMURA software

To further exploit the power of the imaging photometer, Radiant Imaging have developed bolt-on, application-specific software modules. These include applications designed to simply the testing of LED arrays, OLED displays, automotive headlamps, instrument panels and keyboards and LED video screens. The analysis of LED video displays is a particluar specialism for us - Radiant Imaging were the first to employ imaging photometers to perform fully automated colour and brightness balancing of LED video screens, leading to an improved image and extended operating life.  

» Click here to learn more about PM LED Correction Software

» Click here to learn more about the other PM Applications Software packages