• Standards ICDM

ICDM

ICDM is the International Committee for Display Metrology, part of SID's Definitions and Standards Committee charged with setting standards for display metrology. ICDM is largely focused on the production of the Information Display Measurements Standard, which has about 140 display measurements covering every area of displays. The standard is intended to include nearly every display technology for multiple user types, from display manufacturers to consumers.The ICDM does not mediate any issues concerning companies reporting any data obtained through their use of the content of the IDMS document. According to Section 1.1.3 in IDMS, "(the ICDM) does not set compliance values for any of its measurements. That is the job of other standards organizations." Please refer to the relevant sections of the IDMS for further clarification.

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The International Committee for Display Metrology (ICDM) and the Society for Information Display (SID) released the original version of the Information Display Measurements Standard (IDMS) in 2012 (version 1.03). The ICDM released updated versions in 2021 (v1.1) and 2023 (v1.2). The IDMS is the "Go-To" document for standard measurement procedures to quantify electronic display characteristics and qualities. The original IDMS and its updates are the culmination of years of effort by engineers and scientists across dozens of organizations to codify the science of display measurement, explain some of the difficulties associated with making measurements, and offer solutions to help make the measurements properly. The IDMS has benefited from the expertise of display metrologists, electrical, mechanical, software and optical engineers, physicists, vision scientists, and experts from other display-related disciplines. The ICDM is currently developing IDMS v1.3, targeted for release in 2025, which will update and add new content to the v1.2 release.

To promote the spread and use of the measurement procedures and techniques within the display community, an electronic version of the IDMS is freely available. It is unprecedented in the display community that a work of this scope and depth is distributed at no charge. This decision follows the philosophy of the ICDM and SID, which is to provide the standard to as wide an audience as possible to help establish the techniques within the document as universal methods for display measurement. This document has been updated twice since its initial release and will continue to evolve, with further updates, supplemental files, and other value-added content that will keep pace with advances in the industry.

The IDMS features the following:

  • Self-contained measurement procedures that are clear and easy to use
  • A library of commonly used and newly developed display measurements
  • Dozens of new display measurements for current and future displays
  • Adaptability - allows a variety of equipment for measurements
  • Diagnostics, cautions, and useful hints
  • Tools, including software and spreadsheets, where applicable
  • Tutorials and other supplemental sections are included

Benefits of using the IDMS include:

  • Lower costs: consume less time and money due to unambiguous definitions of measurement methods
  • Reduce development lead times by using standardized metrics
  • Provide a common language to reduce risk of disagreements regarding performance
  • Increase customer satisfaction by having more accurate, reliable, and repeatable performance characterizations
  • Convenience: provide all measurement procedures and auxiliary information under a single cover

Former ICDM Chair, Joe Miseli, stated “IDMS v1.03 is the first standard from the ICDM and SID. It is a defining work for evaluating displays and is the most comprehensive display measurement and metrology methods standard yet produced. It provides a full set of common and more specialized display measurement procedures to characterize display performance. It also includes new and innovative measurements never before standardized for characterizing modern displays, as well as many references to clarify and expand upon metrology foundations and techniques. It builds upon the tremendous amount of work of many, especially the first ICDM Editor, Ed Kelley, a former NIST physicist and one of the foremost metrologists in the display industry. The IDMS is written in plain English with abundant use of graphics and examples that make it simple to use and so can be widely applied throughout the display industry. It is all-inclusive so that everything one needs is available in a single volume."

Former SID President, Brian Berkeley, stated, "SID is proud to release the IDMS and its subsequent updates. This landmark standard is the culmination of untold hours of effort on the part of contributors representing a broad cross-section of the display field. Working under the auspices of SID, and with the cooperation of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), the ICDM has created a valuable standard that truly advances display measurement science. The IDMS will enable and promote consistency in the characterization and reporting of critical display performance parameters. Considering the rapid pace of innovation and advances in display science, the IDMS meets a tremendous need for the display industry. SID congratulates and extends its thanks to all of the ICDM members for their profound contribution."

IDMS v1.2 is the follow-up to versions 1.03 and 1.1. The IDMS does not set performance thresholds but gives guidance about the proper ways to measure displays. This standard will allow component suppliers, display manufacturers, and customers to clearly communicate, understand, and agree with the measurement and characterization methods upon which performance standards are based.

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An electronic version of the IDMS is now available as a free download.