Samsung patents light rig that tests camera sensors without changing power
Samsung has been granted a patent for a testing system that checks how well image sensors work. It uses a light source with rotating filters and adjustable openings to change the brightness of the light without altering the electrical power supplied to the bulb.
In the filing’s own words
Disclosed is a test system which includes a light source device. The light source device includes a first light source configured to radiate a first light, a plurality of neutral-density (ND) filters including a first ND filter attached to the first light source and configured to adjust the first light, an aperture unit including a plurality of apertures configured to adjust the first light received from the first ND filter and a diffuser configured to diffuse the first light received from the aperture unit and to radiate the first light for testing an image sensor, wherein an illuminance of the first light is adjusted based on a transmittance of the first ND filter and an aperture ratio of each of the apertures.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A test system for an image sensor, comprising: a first light source device configured to radiate a first test light based on a first control signal; a chart changer; an image sensor configured to obtain image information based on the first test light reflected by the chart changer; a power provider configured to supply a power to the first light source device; and a control circuit configured to generate the first control signal, wherein the first light source device includes: a first light source configured to radiate the first test light; a plurality of neutral-density (ND) filters, including a first ND filter disposed to adjust an illuminance of the first test light; and an aperture unit, including a plurality of apertures, configured to adjust the illuminance of the first test light received from the first ND filter based on an aperture ratio of each of the plurality of apertures, and wherein the illuminance of the first test light is adjusted independent of the power supplied to the first light source device by the power provider, and wherein, while the first test light having a first color temperature is adjusted, a magnitude of the power supplied to the light source device is uniformly maintained, wherein the first light source device is further configured to be movable in a first direction toward the chart changer or in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein the illuminance of the first test light increases as the first light source device moves closer to the chart changer, wherein the first light source device includes a plurality of light sources including the first light source, and each of the plurality of light sources is rotatable individually by the control circuit, wherein the first ND filter is one of the plurality of ND filters, is disposed at a first position where the first test light is radiated toward the chart changer, wherein the first light source comprises a plurality of portions and is rotatable around a first axis, wherein each of the plurality of ND filters is attached to a corresponding one of the portions of the plurality of portions, wherein the first light source is further configured to rotate, based on the first control signal, to locate one of the plurality of ND filters at the first position as the first ND filter, and wherein each of the plurality of ND filters have a different transmittance.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
- Official title
- Light source device, test system including the same, and operation method thereof
- Patent number
- US12744879B2
- Application number
- 18462384
- Filed
- Sep 6, 2023
- Granted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 10
Classified under
H04N 17/002 Electricity & electronicsH04N 17/02 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/56 Electricity & electronicsMore from Samsung in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.