The construction of a new Anomaloscope is proposed to allow use of research techniques which depend on measurements of color matching. Features unavailable with current instruments, but achievable with the proposed design are: 1.) Variable field size and choice of operation mode (protan or deutan matching modes). 2.) The ability to perform either side-by-side or alternating color matches. 3.) High brightness in Maxwellian view, due to the use of lasers as light sources - as much as 5.5 log Td. This allows measurements of the optical density and kinetics of human foveal cone photopigments. 4.) No laser speckle. 5.) Low cost: Under $9,000 is the target price for an eventual stand-alone instrument. Competing instruments for pigment measurements at $40,000 are limited in their capabilities. Competing anomaloscopes are about equal in price but have much more limited capabilities. To achieve these goals a prototype instrument will be constructed from commercially available parts. This prototype will need to solve the following problems. a) Compensation of the differential absorption os short wave length sensitive comes by the standard and test fields. b) Smooth control of the relative luminances of the red and green primaries. c) Stability and reliability of the matches and self calibration of the system.
