Digital camera calibration method

1. A method of calibrating a digital camera, said method comprising:

providing an image capture device adapted to be installed in said digital camera;

providing light;

dispersing said light into a color dispersion image including a plurality of different wavelengths of light;

capturing a test image of said color dispersion image with said image capture device;

obtaining intensity values corresponding to at least two of said different wavelengths of light from said test image;

comparing said intensity values to expected intensity values; and

generating color correction data based on said comparison.

2. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 1 , wherein said step of providing light includes providing a beam of tungsten light.

3. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 1 , wherein said step of dispersing said light includes dispersing said light via a test device.

4. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 3 , wherein said test device includes a light transmission medium.

5. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 3 , wherein said test device includes a color dispersion medium.

6. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 5 , wherein said color dispersion medium includes a variable band pass filter.

7. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 5 , wherein said color dispersion medium includes a translucent surface.

8. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 3 , wherein said test device includes an opaque plate with at least one window.

9. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 8 , wherein said opaque plate includes aluminum.

10. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 8 , wherein said opaque plate includes a non-reflective surface.

11. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 1 , further comprising using optics for focusing said color dispersion image on an image capture device.

12. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 11 , wherein said optics include an infrared filter.

13. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 1 , wherein said step of obtaining intensity values includes obtaining intensity values corresponding to more than two different wavelengths of light.

14. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of said intensity values corresponds to infrared wavelengths.

15. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 13 , further comprising obtaining at least two different values corresponding to an intensity pattern image containing a plurality of intensities of undispersed light transmitted through a light transmission medium.

16. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 15 , wherein said undispersed light includes light from a same light source used to provide said dispersed light.

17. A method of calibrating a digital camera according to claim 15 , wherein said color dispersion image and said intensity pattern image are captured in the same test image.

18. A digital camera calibration device comprising:

an opaque screen with a window;

a color dispersion device disposed in said window; and

a light source disposed to emit light through said color dispersion device and said window.

19. A digital camera calibration device according to claim 18 , further comprising

a second window; and

a light transmission medium disposed in said second transparent window.

20. A digital camera calibration device according to claim 18 , wherein said color dispersion device includes a variable band pass filter.

21. A digital camera calibration device according to claim 20 , wherein said color dispersion device disperses white light into light at least of the visible spectrum.

22. A digital camera calibration device according to claim 18 , wherein said opaque screen includes a substantially non-reflective surface.

23. A digital camera calibration device according to claim 22 , wherein said non-reflective surface includes black paint.

24. A digital camera calibration device according to claim 18 , wherein said opaque screen includes aluminum.

25. A method of calibrating an image capture device, said method comprising:

providing said image capture device, said image capture device adapted to be installed in a digital camera;

providing light;

dispersing said light into at least two different color components;

focusing a first one of said color components onto a first group of pixels of said image capture device;

focusing a second one of said color components onto a second group of pixels of said image capture device;

obtaining intensity values from said first group of pixels and said second group of pixels; and

using said intensity values to generate color correction data.

26. A method according to claim 25 , further comprising comparing said intensity values to expected intensity values.

27. A digital camera calibration device comprising:

an opaque screen with a window;

a light transmission medium disposed in said window, said light transmission medium operative to generate an intensity pattern image containing a plurality of intensities of undispersed light; and

a light source disposed to emit light through said light transmission medium and said window.

28. A method of calibrating a digital camera, said method comprising:

providing light;

transmitting said light through a light transmission medium to generate an intensity pattern image containing a plurality of intensities of undispersed light;

capturing a test image of said intensity pattern image;

obtaining intensity values corresponding to said test image;

comparing said intensity values to expected intensity values; and

generating intensity correction data based on said comparison.