Patent ID: 6639999
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing a numerical representation of user perceived overall image quality of a test image, comprising:(a) a viewing support for mounting the test image; (b) a reference image holder disposed relative to the test image on the viewing support, the reference image holder mounting a reference image series in which each reference image differs from each other reference image by at least one perceptual attribute, wherein each reference image has a corresponding numerical representation indicating overall image quality, the reference image holder being movable so that any one of the reference images can be disposed in a viewing position adjacent to the test image; and (c) a source of light for uniformly illuminating both the test image and the reference image disposed at the viewing position for viewing by a user, such that a user compares a reference image with the test image at the viewing position to determine a relationship between the overall image quality of the most similar reference images to the overall image quality of the test image, infers a numerical representation of the overall image quality of the test image, the numerical representation being recordable.