ImSym integrates optical data from Code V and LightTools into a unified simulation pipeline that accurately represents lenses, sensors, stray light, color processing, and ISP operations. Teams can simulate real-world inputs using any scene object and generate radiometrically accurate output images to evaluate system-level performance long before prototypes are built. The platform also supports Python-based customization, enabling engineers to test their own image processing algorithms directly within the simulation environment. From tuning ISP modules to studying sensor noise and relative angular response, the platform gives engineers full visibility into how each component contributes to the final image.
The Problem with Hardware-First Imaging Development
Most camera and imaging pipelines today rely heavily on physical prototypes to measure image quality. While necessary, this approach introduces several limitations like long prototype manufacturing cycles delay discovery of system-level issues; redesigns late in the process can impact cost, schedule, and yield; optical, sensor, mechanical, and ISP teams often operate in silos; complex interactions – such as stray light or image processing artifacts – can’t be evaluated early; hardware dependencies slow verification of key requirements or iterations accumulate expenses across development phases. These challenges make it difficult for teams to maintain consistent timing, control costs, and meet performance requirements. Simulation offers a more efficient path.
How ImSym Shifts Verification Left
ImSym makes it possible to verify imaging performance earlier by simulating the entire optical-to-digital pipeline. Instead of waiting for prototypes, system engineers can eval-uate lens performance, distortion, ISP behav-ior, and overall image quality directly within the platform. This shift enables organizations to validate system and subsystem requirements before hardware is built; test and refine ISP algorithms using simulated sensor data; identify image-quality issues virtually and correct them sooner; reduce costly prototype cycles and avoid late-stage redesigns and improve alignment across optical, sensor, and system engineering teams. By integrating a virtual imaging pipeline into the systems engineering process, teams gain the ability to gate hardware builds based on simulation results.
Correcting Distortion without a Lens Redesign
In our example scenario, a lens system meets all performance requirements except distortion. Significant barrel distortion caused corner features, such as faces in a test image, to appear unnatural. Redesigning the lens would jeopardize schedule and cost commitments, making it an impractical option. Using ImSym, the engineering team:
- Simulated the full imaging pipeline with the existing lens design
- Inserted a distortion measurement target into the scene
- Compared the simulated target to a paraxial reference
- Fit the distortion error using a fifth-order polynomial
- Used ImSym’s Python API to implement a custom ISP correction block
The result is a digitally corrected image that more closely matched the original scene object, without modifying the optical design. This allowed hardware builds to proceed on schedule while still meeting the distortion specifications.
Accelerating Testing & Calibration
ImSym also helps teams prepare for man-ufacturing by enabling earlier development of automated test and calibration workflows. By simulating image-quality targets such as MTF charts, dot patterns, and color grids, teams can validate test algorithms before hardware arrives. This reduces bring-up time for manufacturing test stations, ensures accurate placement of test fixtures within device FoV and facilitates smoother transition into production.
HighPerformance Simulation with GPU Acceleration
Fast iteration is essential for evaluating system trade-offs. ImSym integrates GPU acceleration to reduce simulation time. In the referenced example, a 0.25MP simulation completed in under one minute on a laptop 7equipped with an Nvidia RTX 2000 GPU, while subsequent iterations completed in www.keysight.com
