Currently, SMS-1000 is the world’s most reliable system for measuring the optical properties of Anti-Glare (AG) films (include glass, plastic sheet, plastic film). The available optical properties measurement include Sparkle, clarity of image (DOI; Distinctness Of Image), reflection scattering (RDF; Reflectance Distribution Function), Transmission scattering (TDF; Transmittance Distribution Function), is a tailor-made instrument for measuring the optical properties of AG glass.
AG (Anti-Glare) films (include glass, sheet, film…etc.)
Why AG film?
Reflections from ambient light sources in display screens are disturbing in at least three ways:
- Reduce contrast and color saturation of the displayed visual information (Fig. 2).
- Especially in outdoor situations they often make recognition of displayed visual information impossible (disability glare).
- In the case of mirror images of ambient light sources they may cause fusion and focusing conflicts causing headache and other adverse effects (Fig. 3).
Sparkle
Sparkle (a kind of random moiré) is the result of the interaction between two structural layers (the pixel matrix of the display screen and the surface with random microstructure of the anti-glare layer).
Due to the diffused anti-glare (AG) structure produced the small flickers from display screen, it becomes particularly noticeable when the observation direction is moved. Focusing problems and eye fatigue caused by sparkling delays.
Demo of SMS-1000 Sparkle Measurement
Distinctness Of Image (DOI)
The diffused light caused by the microstructured surface will not only reduce the light intensity reflected by the surface, but also decrease the clarity of the image showed on the display screen.
How to reduce the intensity of specular light without sacrificing image clarity (image resolution) is very important.
Distinctness of image is affected by the fonts, font size, saturation of color… and other factors. The evaluation of distinctness of image was affected by the complex factors. In order to standardize the measurement results, SMS-1000 defines the distinctness of image as Modulation Transfer conversion factor for each spatial frequency of the display pattern.
Demo of SMS-1000 DOI Measurement
Reflectance Distribution Function (RDF)
The Anti-Glare treated microstructure scatter the reflected light from the specular reflection direction, reducing the undesired reflection of the image on the display screen and decreasing the eye discomfort or unfavorable glare for reading.
The relationship between the intensity of scattered light and the angle of reflection (ie, reflected distribution function, RDF) is an important point for the characterization of anti-glare characteristics. SMS-1000 uses a unique method to measure the reflective scattered light distribution (RDF), with a viewing angle range of ±10°, and it can have a high angular resolution without moving mechanical parts (that is, without a mechanical scanning method). The linear light source required for this method has been integrated in the module of SMS-1000 evaluation.
Demo of SMS-1000 RDF Measurement
Transmittance Distribution Function (TDF)
Similar to the measurement of the scattering ability of AG coatings in the operation mode of the reflected light distribution, the SMS-1000 can also measure the scattering distribution of the transmitted light without moving the mechanical parts. The slit generator is combined with the backlight module, and the light source illuminates the sample to obtain the scattering distribution. By capturing the scattered light image of the transmitted light penetrating the uniform area of the sample in the horizontal direction, the SMS-1000 will analyze the angular scattering distribution of the transmitted light in the reflection mode.