IEC 62977-3-9:2023

Overview - IEC 62977-3-9:2023 (Display sparkle contrast)

IEC 62977-3-9:2023 is an international standard that defines standard measurement conditions and methods for determining display sparkle contrast in direct-view electronic displays that include a display matrix and an anti‑glare layer (AGL). The standard targets optical performance assessment of the random, viewing-direction dependent sparkle pattern that can appear through AGLs. It explicitly excludes sparkle intentionally produced by specular reflections from metallic flakes or effect coatings.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Definition of sparkle and sparkle contrast: Sparkle is described as a random pattern of tiny patches with varying luminance and chromaticity seen through the AGL; sparkle contrast is the ratio of the standard deviation of the radiance variation in the measurement field to its mean radiance.
• Standard measurement conditions: Environmental and dark‑room conditions, required warm‑up time, and coordinate systems for specifying viewing directions.
• Measurement equipment and setup: Requirements for imaging detectors, luminance meters and measurement geometries, including standard measurement locations and LMD (lens‑mounted detector) parameters.
• Test patterns and procedures: Specified test images/patterns, acquisition procedures, sampling and imaging conditions to avoid aliasing, and guidance for oversampling/undersampling.
• Data processing and calculation methods: Procedures for extracting sparkle patterns, removing periodic matrix modulations (filtering in spatial and frequency domains), and computing sparkle contrast. The document includes informative annexes covering the difference‑image method, pixel power deviation (PPD) method, and elimination of low‑frequency radiance variations.
• Reporting: Required elements to include in measurement reports to ensure reproducibility and comparability.

Practical applications

• Quality control and acceptance testing for displays with anti‑glare coatings.
• R&D and optimization of AGL treatments and display module assembly to minimize sparkle artifacts.
• Comparative benchmarking of panel designs, AGL materials, or manufacturing processes.
• Conformance testing in independent test labs and for supplier/customer specification verification.

Who should use IEC 62977-3-9

• Display manufacturers (OEMs and module suppliers)
• Optical and materials engineers working on anti‑glare coatings
• Test laboratories and certification bodies assessing optical performance
• System integrators and product managers specifying display quality requirements

Related standards

• Other parts of the IEC 62977 series (Electronic displays) for broader optical and electrical test methods and definitions. Check the IEC webstore for the latest related parts and updates.

Keywords: IEC 62977-3-9, display sparkle contrast, electronic displays, sparkle pattern, anti‑glare layer, measurement methods, optical performance, direct‑view displays.