Evaluating HDTV displays with the CS-2000 Spectroradiometer light measurement instrument
Unlike in years past, the choices consumers have in what kind of television to buy are enormous. They can choose among many screen sizes, aspect ratios, various features and technologies and prices. Picture quality is what it all comes down to, however, and light measurement is the key. We perform this task with a spectroradiometer.
Konica Minolta’s Spectroradiometer CS-2000 was awarded the 13th Advanced Display of the Year 2008 Grand Prize in the Display Testing Equipment Category. The awards ceremony was held at FINETECH JAPAN, the largest exhibition in the world for FPD R & D and manufacturing technology.
The CS-2000 is a high-performance light measurement device that allows technicians to measure many types of displays that are HDTV-compatible. It s through the use of this advanced science that the quality of screen pictures on these televisions is measured and controlled.
When using the CS-2000 to test displays, we perform light measurement on a wide variety of technologies and products. Here are some of them:
First, we have a reference display, which as of September 2008, is the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD. On this display we look at color and black level performance. Then we use a Sencore VP-403C, which is a signal generator that displays a variety of test patterns at different resolutions and formats including all HDTV resolutions and 1080p.
Products we used to test displays include:
- Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray player (reference)
- Oppo DV-980H DVD player
- DirecTV HR20 high-def DVR
- Velocity Micro CineMagix Grand Theater Home-theater PC
- Monoprice cables
Our engineers use spectroradiometers with a number of DVD and Blu-ray sources in testing the displays of products such as reference-quality films. Our main test materials, however, are
- HD Basics (Blu-ray)
- HQV Benchmark (DVD)
- HQV Benchmark (Blu-ray)
- FPD Benchmark Software for Professional (Blu-ray)
- DisplayMate Multimedia Edition (PC)
Calibration
Prior to using the CS-2000 to formally evaluate HDTVs, we calibrate the picture settings so we can create peak performance in our dark room. We do this because the manufacturer s picture settings are usually designed for very bright displays, giving the sets a bigger impact on the showroom floor.
Here are some steps in the calibration process:
Adjust maximum light output to 40ftl (footlambert), as measured on the CS-2000 from a Window 100% w/New Pluge pattern (Chapter 24) from the 1080p section of the Advanced Video Test Patterns menu of Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics (Bluray).
Adjust black level to maximum darkness while still showing full shadow detail, as observed by the reviewer via the PLUGE w/Gray Scale (CH1) and Reverse Gray Ramps & Steps (CH3, 4) patterns from DVE: HD Basics.
Adjust color temperature to the setting that comes closest to X=0.3127 Y=0.329 (which corresponds somewhat with 6500K) on the CIE chromaticity diagram, as measured on the CS-2000 from window patterns in 5% increments from 100% to 15% on DVE: HD Basics (CH24-41).
Adjust color controls to maximum saturation and accurate hue, without introducing color imbalance, as observed by the reviewer with the help of color filters and the SMPTE 75% Color Bars w/Gray Scale and 75% Bars w/Gray Reference from DVE:
HD Basics.
That s just a few of the steps that initiate the testing process. Light measurement technology has allowed us to use the Spectroradiometer CS-2000 to bring about picture quality on HDTVs that just a few years ago was unheard of.
You can learn more about Konica Minolta’s Spectroradiometer CS-2000 on our corporate website. You can also view a PDF file that speaks in more detail about our light measurement and testing processes.
https://sensing.konicaminolta.us/us/products/cs-2000-spectroradiometer/
