Signal-to-noise ratio evaluation of a CCD camera

A fast signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) digital test method for a CCD camera is presented in this study. The proposed method employs the conventionally used differential operations of two sequential images to determine the noise. However, the technique focuses on two features to improve the SNR evaluation: the noise is separated from the differential image by a specially designed digital high-pass filter that does not affect the noise intensity; and the additional quantization noise introduced into the digital image by the frame grabber is corrected for in the final calculation. The method can produce an objective measurement that offers high repeatability. The results obtained are consistent with those produced by industry standard instruments.