Canon Marketing Japan Invests in Äpre Instruments

Canon Marketing Japan Inc. has made an investment in Äpre Instruments to develop metrologic technology to evaluate and measure advanced optical components such as freeforms and aspheres. The Canon division has also obtained exclusive distribution rights for Äpre Instruments products in Japan.

“What we are targeting is the surface measurement of asphere and freeform optics,” Robert Smythe, president of Äpre Instruments, told Photonics Media. “Freeform optics are particularly difficult to measure due to the accuracy required, random shape, and delicate surface.”

To evaluate the complex components, Äpre Instruments will use its patented SCI (spectrally controlled interferometry) technology.

With the funding, the company plans to accelerate the product release of the noncontact metrology equipment.

Smythe said in an Äpre press release, “Äpre’s goal is to bring optical interferometry into the 21st century by providing metrology tools to advance global optical manufacturing. This investment by Canon Marketing Japan accelerates Äpre toward that goal.”

There are 20 suppliers of Freeform Optics in the Photonics Marketplace.

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About Apre Instruments

Published: August 2019

Glossary

metrology: Metrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement, including the development of measurement standards, techniques, and instruments, as well as the application of measurement principles in various fields. The primary objectives of metrology are to ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency in measurements and to establish traceability to recognized standards. Metrology plays a crucial role in science, industry,...
freeform optics: Freeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes, such as spheres or aspheres. Unlike standard optical components with symmetric and rotationally invariant surfaces, freeform optics feature non-rotationally symmetric and often complex surfaces. These surfaces can be tailored to meet specific optical requirements, offering greater flexibility in designing optical systems and achieving improved performance. Key points about...
interferometry: The study and utilization of interference phenomena, based on the wave properties of light.

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