SAMBA
From specular to diffuse light,
revisit the way you observe the world
Overview
SAMBA is a polarization-difference digital camera. Compact and robust, SAMBA has all the attributes of a regular digital video camera (easy operation, point & shoot, USB3 connection) plus the polarization analysis capability.
Polarization difference camera is mainly used in ACTIVE imaging configuration, where the scene is illuminated by a controlled source. Measurement with SAMBA requires a totally polarized illumination in order to take full advantage of its performances.
Coupled with a dedicated software, SAMBA allows the analysis of the scattering properties of objects. It is designed for the measurement of the gloss of textured objects with complex 3D shape and can be used as an imaging glossmeter. SAMBA delivers gloss degree images related to the human visual assessment and gloss images related to the surface quality. Its field of applications is very wide and ranges from cosmetic testing (skin, hair, lips, nails, …) to gloss measurement of industrial parts (water and oil detection, roughness assessment …).
Principle
Polarization-difference imaging is explained below, in the case of active imaging. The observed scene is illuminated by a controlled source with a known polarization state. In the example below, it is a horizontal linear polarization state. The incident light is scattered by the object. The light collected by SAMBA carries both polarization states P (Parallel) and C (Crossed). SAMBA camera successively acquires the polarization states P and C for each pixel of the image, at video rate.
Example of images observed depending on structural surface quality
Rough surface (left) to Smooth surface (right)
SAMBA measures the depolarization of the polarized illumination for each pixel of the image. The acquisition of the 2 polarization images, P and C allows the calculation of various parameters for each pixels of the image:
Those polarization images contain numerous information about the observed scene. S is the specular image i.e. the image generated only by the light coming from the object surface. D is the diffuse image i.e. the image generated only by the light coming form the sub-surface/volume of the object. DOP is related to the gloss of the object (ratio specular/intensity).
SAMBA can also be used in passive imaging, where the illumination is not controlled. SAMBA will detect the polarization of an un-polarized illumination (specular reflection for example). For more information about that application, please contact us.
Technology
SAMBA is a polarization-difference digital camera based on a fast polarization analysis. The polarization switch from parallel to crossed analysis is electrically driven which allows a fast and reliable analysis (no rotating polarization elements). Our proprietary polarization difference analyzer allows polarization difference imaging at high frame rate (up to 10,000 frame/s).
The polarization rotation switches from no rotation (state 1) to 90 degree rotation (state 2) at video rate, allowing the successive transmission of the vertical and horizontal linear polarization state. Our unique polarization difference analyzer SAMBA can be used with a complete line of C-mount or F-mount lens.
A contrast ratio (CR = P/C) of more than 300 can be achieved over the full visible bandwidth (400 nm to 700 nm).
Specifications
(without lens) | h= 90mm r = 25mm |
1,600 x 1,200 1,920 x 1,080 2,500 x 1,900 | |
(contact us for other options) | |
Contact us for more details.
* Due to Bossa Nova Vision continuous improvement policy, specifications are subject to change without notice.
Resources
SAMBA resources include literature (articles & application notes) and videos to download.