Radiant Vision Systems kicks off 2022 by celebrating three decades of innovation in imaging metrology. Since 1992, Radiant has contributed to advancements in display, lighting, consumer electronics, and optical technologies by equipping manufacturers with test and measurement solutions for design and quality control. Our legacy is built on a fundamental commitment to imaging performance and measurement accuracy. Radiant imaging colorimeters, photometers, and software products balance imaging efficiency with scientific photometric measurement principles, enabling manufacturers to perform automated inspection and obtain results based on human visual perception.
Our history includes the first application of imaging for photometric measurement, the invention of the Radiant Source Model™ (RSM) file format, and the Source Imaging Goniometer® (SIG) for light source modeling. We also pioneered display calibration methods using imaging metrology systems to provide the fastest means of correcting display uniformity from the pixel up. Calibration solutions include VisionCAL® for large LED video screens and patented demura methods for measuring and correcting tiny emissive subpixels such as OLED and microLED.
The Radiant Story
Pioneering Imaging Science for Light & Color Measurement
Radiant Imaging, Inc., was co-founded in 1992 by Ron Rykowski and Steve Wilson. Ron and Steve first met in the late 1970s working at Dyn-Optics, a California-based optical coatings lab and producer of optical instruments. The two engineers shared an interest in projection systems and set out to develop methods for addressing the poor optical efficiency and uniformity of projectors using xenon short-arc lamps. Working nights and balancing day jobs and families, the two-man team developed a raytracing software on the first IBM PC released in 1981—setting the foundation for Radiant.
Initially, Radiant’s business model was to provide services for manufacturers of illumination systems. An early project aimed to address the far field uniformity of a flash bulb in disposable cameras. The issue was: existing photometric methods captured measurements using a traditional nine-point grid procedure, which missed defects between points and provided an incomplete evaluation of the light distribution. The team knew they needed a photometric system that could measure the entire illuminated area at once.
Ron and Steve developed a new kind of photometric measurement equipment based on imaging. They applied a CCD camera and custom calibrations to capture photometric data in a spatial context, which could be used with their software—these were the company’s first ProMetric® imaging systems. Imaging became the cornerstone of Radiant’s success, enabling data acquisition across large fields of view at once and making Radiant’s solutions much faster than competitive spot-based meters.
In the mid-1990s, Rick Albrecht joined Ron and Steve at Radiant and contributed to the company’s next set of developments. The team reasoned that by using a goniometric system to rotate an imager around a light source, they could capture three-dimensional output. This data could be used for both light source characterization and lighting design applications. To support light source modeling, Radiant developed its own output file format—Radiant Source Model™ (RSM)—which contained the radiant or luminous intensity of a source at each position and angle (raytracing data).
Meanwhile Radiant’s imaging systems were also proving useful on their own—providing portable solutions that could be taken to customer labs and used for calibrating large LED video screens in arenas and outdoor installations. Requests from customers to buy these systems outright were increasing, so around 1998, Radiant’s business model began its shift from services to product manufacturing and sales. By the early 2000s, Radiant was keenly focused on imaging systems development to maximize resolution, speed, and accuracy.
Display quality gained new importance as smartphones entered the market in 2007 and mass production demanded rapid photometric measurement solutions for in-line quality control. Radiant products were incorporated to perform real-time inspection on these high-throughput lines, and the company quickly became the leading solution in production display testing.
Having established a legacy of metrology expertise, Radiant (now Radiant Vision Systems) was acquired by Konica Minolta (KM) in 2015, joining its business unit focused on measurement instruments. Radiant’s global reach was immediately broadened as KM subsidiaries began to sell and support Radiant products in North America, China, South Korea, Japan, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
Today, thousands of Radiant solutions test millions of devices worldwide each year. Radiant’s flagship ProMetric line of imaging photometers and colorimeters—now with resolutions up to 61 megapixels and speeds as fast as 0.5 second per measurement—continue to be the inspection solutions of choice for leading device makers. Radiant can be found wherever lighting and displays are critical to device performance and where quality is paramount.
Radiant Co-Founder and former CEO,
Ronald F. Rykowski (pictured right) circa mid-1990s.
Radiant Co-Founder Steve Wilson (pictured right) circa mid-1990s.
Rick Albrecht, Ron Rykowski, and Joel Deister stand next to the second-generation Source Imaging Goniometer (SIG-200) developed in 1999.
From Imaging Colorimetry: Accuracy in Display and Light Source Metrology by Radiant co-founder Ron Rykowski and Radiant VP of Business Development Hubert Kostal. This article provided the basis for Radiant's current whitepaper "Guide to Choosing an Imaging Colorimeter."
Explore Milestones in Our Corporate History
Take a tour of Radiant’s history and the innovations that we have contributed to the field of imaging metrology over the past 30 years.
Ron Rykowski and Steve Wilson共同创立Radiant Imaging, Inc. is —Ron working from Woodinville, Washington, and Steve working out of San Juan Capistrano, California, U.S.A.
View the original Article of Incorporation.
In its early years, Radiant’s operations focused on providing optical design consulting services.
The ProMetric® name is used to brand Radiant’s CCD imaging systems, the first of Radiant’s imaging colorimeters and photometers.
Read a paper by Radiant co-Founder Ron Rykowski on “Illumination System Measurement Using CCD Cameras” published by OSA in 1994.
Radiant begins selling the first ProMetric® imaging photometers to address one-off customer measurement projects. These cameras would become so in-demand that Radiant eventually shifted its business model to equipment manufacturing and sales.
Radiant opens its corporate headquarters office in Duvall, Washington, U.S.A. The company had three employees at this time: Ron, Steve, and Rick Albrecht (engineer and mechanical designer credited with the company’s Source Imaging Goniometer® and first ProMetric color systems).
A goniometric solution is developed using CCD imaging and a 2-axis, computer-controlled stage to acquire new Radiant Source Model™ files used for raytracing in optical design. This solution would provide the basis for Radiant’s SIG-400 Source Imaging Goniometer®.
Read the paper describing “Source Modeling for Illumination Design,” published by SPIE in 1997.
Radiant engineer Rick Albrecht shows how the 3rd generation SIG (SIG-300) would function in this early explainer video.
Radiant’s business model changes from optical design consultation to manufacturing and sale of imaging colorimeters and test systems for lighting and displays. At the same time, Radiant develops software to meet new demands using its equipment.
Read the Radiant company brochure, circa 2003.
Radiant introduces the ProMetric® Color CCD Light and Color Measurement System, the company’s first commercially available imaging colorimeter, which supported several CCD resolutions.
Read the paper “Digital Imaging Colorimeter for Fast Measurement of Chromaticity Coordinate and Luminance Uniformity of Displays,” published by SPIE in 2001.
Radiant moves its corporate headquarters to a new building in Duvall, Washington, U.S.A., doubling its facility size. By this time, Radiant had around 20 employees.
Read the announcement from April 15, 2003.
Radiant introduces the PM-LED system for on-site calibration of large LED video screens, applied to calibrate two 1,600-square-foot full-motion arena displays in the newly constructed Seahawks Stadium (now Lumen Field).
Read the announcement from October 20, 2003.
Radiant introduces PM-PTS™ (Production Test Sequencer) Software. This platform was applied for automated visual inspection of projection displays and rear-projection TVs—and provided the foundation for the company’s current TrueTest™ Automated Visual Inspection Software.
Read an original PM-PTS™ specification sheet.
Radiant introduces the first inspection system for full-color OLED production test applications, PM-OLED. This product was the first to apply the company’s imaging systems for pixel-level measurement of OLED displays.
Read our whitepaper on the application of imaging colorimeters for demura of OLED, microLED, and other emissive displays.
Radiant introduces ProMetric® F-series imaging colorimeters.
During this period, applications for Radiant imaging colorimeters rapidly increase in high-volume production testing.
Radiant releases the TrueMURA™ Analysis Module for ProMetric® 9.1 Software in December. The JND (Just Noticeable Difference) detection algorithm incorporated in TrueMURA is based on U. S. patent 7,783,130, “Spatial Standard Observer” (SSO) technology, licensed by Radiant Vision Systems from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Read the article “Software Simulates Sight: Flat Panel Mura Detection” published in 2008 by NASA Spinoff, NASA’s own website profiling technology that have been transferred from NASA research into commercial products.
Radiant relocates its corporate headquarters to a new facility in Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.
Radiant’s LED video screen calibration solution is commercialized as VisionTUNE, providing the foundation for Radiant’s current screen calibration system, VisionCAL®.
View an advertisement for VisionTUNE in the April 2010 issue of LEDs Magazine.
Radiant Imaging merges with Zemax Development Corporation to form Radiant Zemax, bringing together two corporate lineages of test, measurement, and optical design for light sources and illuminated devices.
In December, Radiant Zemax establishes a China subsidiary, headquartered in Shanghai.
Radiant introduces TrueTest™ Software for automated optical inspection (AOI) at the 2012 Display Week exhibition in June. This platform now provides the foundation for all of Radiant’s production-level applications such as high-throughput, automated inspection in display device manufacturing.
Watch a product demo of TrueTest applied for automated visual inspection of displays.
Radiant introduces the ProMetric® G-series of imaging colorimeters in October, providing the foundation for its current ProMetric® I systems.
Watch the original video introduction for the ProMetric G.
In November, Radiant Zemax establishes a Korean subsidiary, headquartered in Seoul.
In May, Radiant introduces its current line of imaging colorimeters, ProMetric® I-series, originally offered in 8- and 16-megapixel models. Today, ProMetric I Imaging Colorimeters are available in resolutions up to 61 megapixels.
Radiant introduces a turnkey, fully automated visual surface inspection test fixture for electronic devices, later branded as TT-IRIS (now discontinued). This technology was an early example of Radiant surface inspection solutions for electronic devices, now engineered by the company’s Advanced Vision department.
Watch a video of the original TT-IRIS system.
Radiant introduces its current line of imaging photometers, ProMetric® Y-series, originally offered in 16- and 29-megapixel models. As with ProMetric I-series, ProMetric Y Imaging Photometers are now available in resolutions up to 61 megapixels.
Radiant Zemax sells the Zemax optical design software business unit in October. The companies continue to operate separately, with Radiant keeping the Radiant Zemax name until 2015.
Following the January announcement of the company’s new name as Radiant Vision Systems, LLC, Radiant is acquired in June by Konica Minolta, a Tokyo-based maker of printers and other business and industrial devices. Radiant joins a global network of subsidiaries that operate as the Konica Minolta Sensing Business Unit, which focuses on measurement instruments.
Read announcements from June 24, 2015, and August 5, 2015.
In November, Radiant opens a new direct office in Shenzhen, China.
Radiant and Konica Minolta launch their international distribution network to sell and support Radiant Vision Systems solutions. This network adds Konica Minolta offices Japan, China, and Europe to Radiant’s global footprint.
In January, Radiant introduces its current FPD Conoscope Lens for use with ProMetric imaging systems, providing rapid evaluation of display view angles to ±70° from a single point.
Watch a webinar introducing the FPD Conoscope Lens.
Radiant opens a new direct office in Cupertino, California, U.S.A. in December.
In January, Radiant introduces its current AR/VR Lens for use with ProMetric imaging systems, providing a solution for in-headset evaluation of augmented and virtual reality displays.
Watch a product demo of the AR/VR Lens.
In April, Radiant relocates its corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations to a larger facility in Redmond, Washington, U.S.A., where the company is headquartered today.
Radiant introduces new software modules that provide application-specific analysis functions within the TrueTest™ platform. The first modules released are TT-ARVR™ and TT-HUD™.
Watch a product demo of TT-HUD analysis software for head-up display test & measurement.
In May, Radiant opens a new direct office in Suzhou, China.
In January, Radiant introduces the NIR Intensity Lens for direct angular measurement of near-infrared light sources used in sensing applications.
Watch a product introduction from the floor of the 2019 SPIE Photonics West Exhibition.
Radiant introduces new software modules TT-NIRI™ and TT-AutomotiveDisplay™.
Watch a webinar presenting the many applications of near-IR sensing in consumer devices, and the importance of light source measurement.
In April, Radiant opens a new direct office in Novi, Michigan, U.S.A.
In February, Radiant opens a new direct office location in Haiphong, Vietnam.
Radiant’s VIP™ (Vision Inspection Pack) Software is introduced in May—a single platform that integrates both light measurement and defect detection for evaluating backlit icons and symbols.
Watch a webinar to learn benefits and applications of VIP Software.
Radiant introduces the INSPECT™ software toolkit for advanced machine vision applications in July.
Radiant announces new 61-megapixel models of its ProMetric® Imaging Colorimeters and Photometers at the 2021 Display Week virtual exhibit in May.
Read the announcement from May 17, 2021.
Radiant relocates its Suzhou office in July and launches production operations in China to support the growth of its customer base in the Asia-Pacific region.
Read the announcement from July 8, 2021 [Chinese language].
Radiant celebrates 30 years of innovation in imaging metrology.
Browse the Radiant Family Photo Album
Radiant’s success is built on more than corporate milestones. The foundation of any great company is the people who work day by day to make it possible—and Radiant is no exception. Internationally, the Radiant team of employees have made this company as innovative, knowledgeable, and enjoyable to work for as it is. We invite you to take a look through this album of some of our favorite photos of the Radiant family over the past 30 years.
Where in the World is Radiant Vision Systems?
From two founders in 1992 to now hundreds of Radiant employees worldwide, Radiant has continued to grow and broaden our support of measurement applications in every corner of the globe. Radiant operates out of several strategic business locations to provide our customers with the best direct access to local services and representatives.
Radiant HQ: Redmond, Washington
Cupertino, California
Novi, Michigan
China HQ: Shanghai
Shenzhen
Suzhou
Office in Seongnam
Lobby
Conference Room
Office in Haiphong
Lobby
Cleanroom
Evolution of the Radiant Logo
Our logo has seen several design iterations (and company name changes) leading to the stylish orange and navy we are sporting today.
Radiant Vision Systems looks forward to building on this legacy of leadership in test and measurement by helping manufacturers of today’s most advanced and in-demand technology continue to ensure quality, automate processes, and deliver products that truly reflect customer expectations. Contact us today to discuss your project and put our 30 years of experience to the test!
