A Goniophotometer is a device used for measurement of the light emitted from an object at different angles.[1] The use of goniophotometers has been increasing in recent years with the introduction of LED-light sources, which are mostly directed light sources, where the spatial distribution of light is not homogeneous.[2] If a light source is homogeneous in its distribution of light, it is called a Lambertian source.[3] Due to strict regulations, the spatial distribution of light is of high importance to automotive lighting and its design.
A goniophotometer can be used for various applications:
Equipped with color sensors additional characteristics can be measured
The goniophotometer types A, B, and C defined here are derived from publication "CIE 70" of the International Commission on Illumination.[4]
Fixed horizontal axis, with the vertical axis attached, both perpendicular to the main output direction of the light source
Fixed vertical axis, with the horizontal axis attached, both perpendicular to the main output direction of the light source
Type A and B are Double columns structure. This type is applied to fixed the grille lamp. The symmetry axis of lamp and the horizontal of rotating supporter is coaxial, in the B-βcoordinate system, and the two is vertical Cross, in the A-αcoordinate system.
Fixed vertical axis perpendicular to the line of measurement, with a horizontal axis parallel to the main output direction of the light source
Type C are single column structures. The single column structure is created when the assistant column is taken down from double columns structure. This type is applied to a fixed tube lamp, spot lamp, or other devices.[5] The axis radiation of lamp and the horizontal of rotating supporter is coaxial.
Luminous intensity distributions can also be measured using imaging goniophotometers.[6] In order to measure the full angular distribution of a light source, the fisheye camera method can be used. The method is based on employing a fisheye-lens camera installed into a port of an integrating sphere. The camera simultaneously records the luminous intensity data for all angles of light emission, reducing the measurement uncertainty due to temporal effects, such as drift and temporal modulation of the light source. The instantaneous nature of the camera measurement also significantly reduces the time required to obtain the luminous intensity distribution of the device under test, and is not affected by the angular resolution set for the measurement.