Color and Calibration in Compact Camera Modules for AR, Machine Vision, Automotive, and Mobile Applications
Instructors: Uwe Artmann, Image Engineering GmbH & Co. KG, and Kevin J. Matherson, Microsoft Corporation
Level: Intermediate
Duration: 2 Hours plus 15-minute break and 30-minute post-class discussion
Course Date/Time:

San Francisco: Thursday 13 January, 07:00 - 09:15
New York: Thursday 13 January, 10:00 - 12:15
Paris: Thursday 13 January, 16:00 -18:15
Tokyo: Friday 14 January, 00:00 - 02:15

Benefits
This course enables the attendee to:

• Understand how hardware choices in compact cameras impact calibrations and the type of calibrations performed and how such choices can impact overall image quality.
• Understand the impact of color filters on color calibration.
• Describe basic image processing steps for compact color cameras.
• Understand calibration methods for mobile camera modules.
• Describe the differences between class calibration and individual module calibration.
• Describe the fundamental approaches to color calibration like chart based and spectra based.
• Learn the principles of color management.
• Understand how spectral sensitivities and color matrices are calculated.
• Understand how the calibration light source impacts calibration for both LED and non-LED sources.
• Describe required calibration methods based on the hardware chosen and the image processing used.
• Appreciate artifacts associated with color shading and incorrect calibrations.
• Learn about the impacts of pixel saturation and the importance of controlling it on color.
• Learn about the impact of tone reproduction on perceived color (skin tone, memory colors, etc.).

Course Description
When an image is captured using a digital imaging device it needs to be rendered. For consumer cameras this processing is done within the camera and covers various steps like dark current subtraction, flare compensation, shading, color compensation, demosaicing, white balancing, tonal and color correction, sharpening, and compression. Each of these steps has a significant influence on image quality. In order to design and tune cameras, it is important to understand how color camera hardware varies as well as the methods that can be used to calibrate such variations. This course provides the basic methods describing the capture and processing of a color camera image. Participants get to examine the basic color image capture and how calibration can improve images using a typical color imaging pipeline. In the course, participants are shown how raw image data influences color transforms and white balance. The knowledge acquired in understanding the image capture and calibration process can be used to understand tradeoffs in improving overall image quality.

Intended Audience
People involved in the design and image quality of electronic cameras (regardless of application) and scanners. Technical staff of manufacturers, managers of digital imaging projects, as well as journalists, and students studying image technology.

Uwe Artmann studied photo technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne following an apprenticeship as a photographer and finished with the German 'Diploma Engineer'. He is now the CTO at Image Engineering, an independent test lab for imaging devices and manufacturer of all kinds of test equipment for these devices. His special interest is the influence of noise reduction on image quality and MTF measurement in general.

Kevin Matherson is a director of optical engineering at Microsoft Corporation working on advanced optical technologies for AR/VR, machine vision, and consumer products. Prior to Microsoft, he participated in the design and development of compact cameras at HP and has more than 15 years of experience developing miniature cameras for consumer products. His primary research interests focus on sensor characterization, optical system design and analysis, and the optimization of camera image quality. Matherson holds a Masters and PhD in optical sciences from the University of Arizona.

Discounts given for multiple classes. See Registration Page for details to register.

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