SPIE - Education Digital Camera and Sensor Evaluation Using Photon Transfer SC916

Photon transfer (PT) is a popular and essential characterization standard employed in the design, operation, characterization, calibration, optimization, specification and application of digital scientific and commercial camera systems. The PT user friendly technique is based on only two measurements- average signal and rms noise which together produce a multitude of important data products in evaluating digital camera systems (most notably CCD and CMOS). PT is applicable to all imaging disciplines. Design and fabrication process engineers developing imagers rely heavily on PT data products in determining discrete performance parameters such as quantum efficiency (QE), quantum yield, read noise, full well, dynamic range, nonlinearity, fixed pattern noise, V/e- conversion gain, dark current , image, etc.. Camera users routinely use the PT technique to determine system level performance parameters to convert relative measurements into absolute electron and photon units, offset correction, flat field and image S/N, ADC quantizing noise, optimum encoding, minimum detectable luminance, operating temperature to remove dark current , reliability, stability, etc. PT is also the first go/no-go test performed to determine the health of new camera system and/or detector as well as provide a power tool in trouble shooting problems. This course will review these aspects and many others offered by PT.