Dr.

Steve Clark
steve.clark@ntu.ac.uk


With thanks to Dr Cranton and Dr Tsakonas
Interface Technology & Design
2010/11
Module ITEC 20121

Lecture 2
Introduction to Display Measurement
Warning!
This lecture contains a lot of technical
information on light measurements and
units that requires some familiarisation to
understand fully (and information beyond
the syllabus covered). We use the
laboratories to help develop the aspects
that are important to the module.
The challenge for visual interface technology is to provide a display that will
enable us to see images with a quality that is limited by the capabilities of
human vision rather than the characteristics of the display.
Approximate Specification of The Human Visual System

Luminance detection 3 x 10
-6
cdm
-2
- 3 x 10
6
cdm
-2

Spectral response 390 nm - 760 nm (the visible spectrum)

Colour Acuity Variable (see later lectures, thousands typical)

Normal Visual Acuity 1 arcmin ( 1/60 )

Binocular Field of View 200 H, 120 V (160 H, 120 V monocular)

Fusion Frequency below 60 Hz (variable)

Contrast Sensitivity 1% (variable)

All dependent upon environment, background luminance, state of adaptation

Photopic Eye Response

violet
red
green
PLASMA EL FED VFD LED
Emissive displays
ECD DLP EPD
Passive displays
CRTs Flat Panel Displays
Displays market
LCD
We will measure the
Displays shown in red
Measurements:
Luminance meter (cdm
-2
)
Spectrometer (uncalibrated spectrum)
Chromaticity meter (x, y)
Brightness, Luminance and Radiance
A display will have a particular radiance which will give an average visual response of a
particular luminance, but the perceived brightness depends on several other factors
including the individual differences from the average, the environment, the adaptation
state of the eye, contrast, colour and the interpretation of the brain. So, brightness is not
proportional to luminance and in an optical illusion can even contradict luminance.
Brightness is a subjective quantity describing appearance.
Radiance is a repeatable objective absolute physical measurement.
Luminance is a repeatable objective measurement relating to vision.
Radiometric and Photometric Units
Energy is propagated as electromagnetic radiation termed - radiant energy the
fundamental unit of which is Radiant Flux, measured in Watts, W. The radiant flux is
the energy flowing through a surface per second . The system of units based on this
are known as Radiometric Units

Photometric Units relate radiant units to the average visual response. Hence, the
photometric equivalent of Radiant Flux is Luminous Flux which is a measure of the
total visual output of a light source, measured in Lumens, lm (care: not 1 metre!)


[This looks complex but just takes
into account the contributions of
all wavelengths by integration]



The conversion factor for the peak of this response is 683 is for normal photopic vision
Hence 1 lm = 1/683 W at the peak response wavelength of 555nm (or 1 W =683 lm)
( The scotopic conversion factor = 1745 )
( ) F F
F
F
=

=
=
=
683
350nm
760nm
V e d
e
V
l
l
l
Luminous Flux
Radiant Flux
Relative Luminous Efficiency ( )
Brightness is defined formally as the attribute of a visual sensation
according to which an area appears to emit more or less light.
Luminance (Cdm
-2
or lmsr
-1
m
-2
) is the radiance from an area weighted by
the spectral sensitivity associated with the (population average) sensation
of vision for the spectrum observed. Light is emitted from an area with
varying angular dependence (usually lower levels at higher viewing angles).
Luminance is more useful measure for displays than Luminous Flux as it links
to a typical display area emitter with angular dependence. It is proportional to its
photometric equivalent unit, Radiance (Wsr
-1
m
-2
), for a visual stimulus.
Steradian (sr) is the unit of solid angle. For a flat surface emitter
the light output will be into to a hemispherical solid angle which
is by definition 2 steradians (a sphere is 4 ).
Some aspects of colour and colour vision

Luminance symbol L , unit cdm
-2
Candela per m
2
1 cdm
-2
= 1 lm per Steradian per m
2
( lmsr
-1
m
-2
)


The Intensity of light emitted into the given angular directions per projected area of
the emitting (or reflecting) luminous source

Luminance of Lambertian Emitters: For a uniformly emitting diffuse surface, the luminous
intensity is normally a cosine function of the projected area of the source. However, because
the apparent area of the surface (viewed at an angle) has the same cosine angular variation,
the luminance is the same from whatever angle you view the surface. Another Common
Luminance unit for Lambertian displays: Footlambert, fL.

Photometric Units
Units and measurements to be discussed more in seminars and laboratories
Normal (100%)
I = I
0
cos
Lambertian Display
90%
75%
50%
Most displays are treated as
Lambertian but, in general, this
only applies to emissive displays.
NB 1cd =3.14 fL (ie fL)

Some Typical Luminances (cdm
-2)


Surface of the sun 2.0 x 10
9

Fluorescent lamp 6000
CRT monitor (max) 310
White paper (bright sunlight) 25000
White paper (bright moonlight) 0.03



Some Typical Display Luminances
TVs (max) 300 500
Monitors (max) 250 - 350
TFT LCD notebook (max) 70

Photometric Units
Contrast Measurements (see labs)

Contrast Ratio is typically defined as on-state luminance divided by off-state luminance:
C
R
= L
on
/ L
off

where the L terms refer to pixel luminance for on and off screen inputs (white and black)


Luminance Contrast is usually defined as:
C
L
= L
on
- L
off
/ L
off



Luminance contrast is arguably the most important parameter to define the visual quality of
an interface. We will use this parameter to compare display technologies in the lab.
It is important to specify ambient conditions and the angle used for measurement.
Peak contrast is often quoted very misleading (but helps sell displays?), it is better to use
a standard test pattern (as we do in the lab).




Luminance Measurements

Uses a specially designed detector which
includes filters that ensure the spectral
response matches that of the eye.
Can often select measurement units (we
will select cdm
-2
).
Chromaticity Measurements
This relies the CIE 1931 Colour Model (see later lectures).
Uses a Luminance meter with special additional filters that
match the spectral response of the Chrominance reading
being taken.
Measure values of X, Y (or more usually the normalised
values x, y) for a uniformly coloured area of a screen.
Calculate z if required (from x + y + z = 1).
Plot the x, y coordinate for the screen area on the CIE
chart.
Y is set to be directly equivalent to luminance.

CIE Chromaticity Triangle
Measurement of x, y, z coordinates is performed using chromaticity
meters (luminance meters with X, Y, Z filters)
CIE x - y plot

x = red
y = green
(z= blue)

Normalised so
lower case

x + y + z =1

White
.33x +.33y+.33z
Spectral response of rods and cones
(normalised)

The CIE 1931 Tristimulus Spectra
The tristimulus value
for red, X, is derived
by measuring the
output of a light source
using an X filter
(with response x(l) ).
Repeat for Y and Z.
Construction of the RGB Display Colour Gamut
Measure values of x, y for all three Display primaries: Red
Green and Blue.
Plot the three x, y coordinates on the CIE chart (see later
for more details on the CIE chart)
Draw the triangle formed by the three coordinates.
The only saturated colours producible by that display now
lie within the triangle formed by the true x, y coordinates
for the Red Green and Blue display primaries. The only
colours will include those saturated colours mixed with
greys.
Screen reflections will distort x, y coordinates measured in
a lab for RGB (normally moving towards white).

CIE Chromaticity Triangle
Measurement of x, y, z coordinates is performed using chromaticity meters
Measure x and y
values for each
CRT primary
and plot on
CIE chart

x + y + z =1

White
.33x +.33y+.33z
x
y
CRT Primaries
CRT Colour Gamut
Some key points for the Lab
Luminance measurements give a calibrated measure of
(screen) output in cdm
-2

Chrominance measurements give a calibrated measure of
average perceived colour as Y, x, y where x and y are
coordinates on the CIE colour chart. (no units) and Y is
luminance.
Luminance Contrast measurements give a calibrated
measure of real screen contrast values (a ratio, so no
units).
Measurements are taken under approximately normal lab
conditions to model normal screen use (deliberately not in
a dark room).
Summary
Photometric units relate Radiant units to the average
visual response.
The base unit is photometric flux whose unit is the lumen
(lm).
The peak response of the eye is at 555n where the
conversion factor from radiometric units is 1 W =683 lm
Luminance measurements give a calibrated measure of
emitting or reflected photometric light output of a display
or surface in cdm
-2

Chrominance measurements give a calibrated measure of
colour as x, y, z coordinates on the CIE colour chart. (no
units).
Plotting x, y for display RGB values on the CIE
chromaticity triangle gives the display colour Gamut.