Gamma Scientific Sets High Standards for Light Measurement

For more than 60 years, San Diego-based Gamma Scientific has provided electronics manufacturers, government institutions, and universities around the world with solutions to accurately measure optical radiation from light sources displays. Scientific's test measurement systems precisely determine luminance, color, reflectance in products ranging LEDs night-vision devices cellphones, large TV screens, head-up displays (HUDs), augmented virtual reality (AR/VR) The company contributes highway safety market, making instrumentation light-reflection properties of materials used for road signs markers. also operates an International Organization Standardization (ISO) 17025 laboratory accredited by National Institute Standards Technology's (NIST's) Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) calibration testing. “What sets us apart is very low uncertainty standards that we have in-house maintain are audited annually,” said Richard Austin, company's president chief technological officer (Fig. 1). “The durability accuracy our well known, that's why people keep coming back us.” Austin stands next NED E-series robot AR/VR traces its roots 1961, when Harold Field met Royal Akin. was general manager television division at telecommunications equipment manufacturer Stromberg Carlson, Akin a researcher Visibility University California, Diego. wanted provide innovative versatile would allow display makers users perform accurate measurements ease. From beginning, founders partnered NIST (National Bureau time) minimize calibrations they provided. NIST's tungsten lamp-based as flux, illuminance, irradiance, spectral irradiance. During first decade, these calibrate photometer systems. 1960s age cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays, which brought challenges. electron beams CRT produced small spots light, had issues refresh rate phosphor persistence, said. To meet accuracy, developed novel metrology arc-second precision any angle. “We were primary reference color major manufacturers throughout world,” Sony turned it needed production testing antireflective coatings on high-end Trinitron monitors. That system evolved into mainstay instrument, Image Processing Assembly, provides combination precise angular position luminance measurement. instrument designed various including HUDs. It consists high-resolution temperature-controlled charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor coupled motor-driven assembly moves through vertical horizontal axes sub-arc-second precision. This control allows function automated theodolite, Through 1970s, up newly established irradiance standards. improved performance their detector amplifier advances stability, linearity, sensitivity. These helped reach new markets. In 1976, joined physicist, he develop high-accuracy cockpit HUDs US Air Force's F16 fighter aircraft General Dynamics. his team highly sensitive photomultiplier detectors combined electro-optical head could positional down tenth milli-radiance “That's 20 over full field view HUD,” built hundreds program. And still make program deployable now.” Another market focused characterize retroreflection reflective markings. “Those require specific geometry international standards,” explained. “There's particular illumination angle illuminates sample, sensing simulates eye relative headlights. requires photometric correlate how sees things.” By 1978, engineers such collection reflected light. led product line material Since then, sold 15-meter range customers Korea, China, Japan, Turkey, Germany, France. Meanwhile, agencies use portable, mobile instruments take installed field. laser-based retroreflectometers can be attached side vehicles equipped specialized computer data acquisition system, allowing surveyors drive nighttime Using necessary repaint lines save millions dollars. Technology innovation development segment flourish, “Highway implementation niche; but chance become dominant supplier niche.” innovations didn't go unnoticed. EG&G acquired 1982. decade marked launch photodiode array detector-based spectroradiometers. mid-1980s, collaborated set Lamps typically 1–6 percent, depending wavelength He colleagues advanced amplifiers temperature-stabilized 0.7–0.8 percent. More changes came mid-1990s, Baltimore, Maryland-based Belfort Instrument Company, meteorological instruments, EG&G. end though, spun off independently operated entity. That's took CEO began rebuilding eight 65-strong firm (with engineering staff) today. initially market. But ties Force landing contract Boeing HUD C–17 military transport aircraft. able bootstrap sustainable levels,” “Gamma pretty much been self-funding self-sustaining growth since then.” A 2016 visit Boulder, Colorado, innovative, award-winning near-eye (NEDs) form heart gadgets 2). Wearers head-mounted often suffer fatigue, headaches, nausea, complain eye-tracking artifacts persist after removing devices. human factor effects related displays’ parameters measured. Near-eye (NED-LMD E-Series). John Penczek, physicist electrical engineer trying address NEDs being assessed Force. ideas offer based experience measuring images HUDs, developed—with Gamma—intellectual property As explained, input most important.” one, collects sends spectroradiometer needs approximately size pupil, 2–8 mm. Standard spectroradiometers pupils order 25–30 mm, this lead factor-of-10 error Positioning device's entrance pupil same location pupil's measured critical obtaining what person actually sees, Recognizing solutions, transitioned CTO so focus research. participated Penczek others United States Electrotechnical Commission Committee Display Metrology meetings produce dedicated NEDs. specify types recommended get repeatable reproducible results. Series Austin's patent-protected intellectual property. Major consumer companies evaluate designing producing laboratory. goniometer-based instrument—which given 2021 Laser Focus World Innovator Award SPIE Prism Awards finalist—boasts tiny extremely camera spectroradiometer. Now, challenge lower-cost What tools attention detail strict adherence “A lot went design mindful each source that, example, give. design, try those; ones cannot minimize, fully compensate for. takes work. Being involved really helpful, having appeal great asset.” continues expand customer base worldwide hire talent. Responding customers’ propel forward, innovating providing unique demands. Prachi Patel freelance journalist who writes about science, nanotechnology, computing.