Application of imaging elements in vehicle lighting devices photometry

Imaging elements has been used in photometry for a few years. They found application in matrix luminance meters and colorimeters. In Motor Transport Institute such device was developed. It uses digital camera as data source. System is called Illuminator. It allows luminance distribution measurement and different kind of analysis. Imaging elements allows to develop a new measurement methods and also to improve already existing measurement methods. This paper describes tests of devices for illumination of rear registration plates and tests of headlamps with use of matrix luminance meter. Devices for illumination of rear registration plate are tested according to Regulation 4 ECE UN. The stand for testing such devices consists of basis on which diffuse colourless material is mounted and luminance meter. Diffuse reflection factor must be known. Dimensions of this material corresponds to dimensions of one from three different types of registration plates. Device under test illuminates diffuse material. Location of illuminating device in relation to diffuse material must correspond to location between device and registration plate shown on approval drawings. After measurement all result are recalculated to diffuse reflection factor equal 1. Measurement results was compared to reference methods. Results of compare shown that measurement methods with use of imaging elements could be applied in practice. Application of matrix luminance meter can significantly speed up and simplify photometric measurements. In this paper, compare between values obtained with use of matrix luminance meter and standard method was shown. This compare was done with use of devices for illumination of rear registration plate and headlamp. In both cases obtained results proved that method which use imaging elements can be applied in practice.