VICAL - A VIDEO CALIBRATION SYSTEM USING A STANDARD PICTURE MONITOR

VICAL has been developed for nontechnical assessment of the performanc e of video cameras and monitors in the field. It inserts a calibrated test signal into the video feed to the monitor. Using the principles o f spot photometry as applied to the video signal, it utilizes the eye' s ability to perceive small differences of luminance and colour when v iewed side-by-side. This comparison is displayed on a standard colour video picture monitor. The standard against which the unknown is compa red is a vertical bar that is generated by VICAL and inserted into the video signal. The bar is placed against any picture element to enable the comparison to be made. Also, as part of the system, a line-up fac ility for the monitor is included.