Optical Surface Analysis: Focusing on the Fundamentals

All optical imaging systems, from smartphone cameras to extreme-ultraviolet photolithography optics, are under increasing pressure to support higher resolution, broader spectral range, or higher...

From applications in ophthalmology, endoscopy, and microscopy — to use in head-up displays, lidar systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellites — freeform optics are enhancing the...

From medical devices to precision instruments used for industrial manufacturing, innovative optical technologies are being increasingly integrated into products across numerous industries. The micro-...

Polymer optics, also known as plastic optics, are ideal for reducing the footprint and weight of optical systems and assemblies, further fueling the demand for polymer optics in end uses in which...

The birefringence-induced phase delay (BIPD) filter from Specto Photonics is a compact filter meant for the suppression of strong disturbances caused by excitation light in Brillouin spectroscopy....

The WaveMaker™ 4000A, WaveShaper® 1000B, and WaveShaper® 4000B from Coherent are instruments made to test optical networks. The WaveMaker instrument series operates in the C-band, and...

The SM1008S from Mitutoyo America Corporation is a noncontact line-laser sensor for surface measurement processes in electrical, electronics, semiconductor, automotive, food, medical device, and...

The MiScope MP4K from Zarbeco is a USB 3.0 powered high resolution handheld digital microscope with observation, recording, measurement, and image comparison capabilities. Able to connect to PC,...

With the understanding of aspheric lens manufacturing provided in part one of this article, designers have the tools to optimize their aspheres; the next step is to understand how to specify and...

The benefits of aspheric lenses are numerous: They allow for a reduction in spherical aberrations and are ideal for focusing or collimating light, as they can achieve a low ƒ-number. Aspheres...

The use of precision polymer optics is becoming an increasing necessity today as products demand sophisticated light handling components to achieve desired results. Polymer optics can be thought of...

Aspheric surfaces are powerful tools that combine the optical corrections of multiple lenses into a single element (Figure 1) and affect performance in ways that spherical optics cannot. For example,...

Himax IGI designs and manufactures innovative micro and nano patterns for displays, optics, biomedical, and many other applications. Himax IGI provides photoresist masters, nickel shims, and soft...

4D SWIR interferometers are used to test optical components and systems involved in transmitting, relaying, and receiving laser communication signals in space - at every functional wavelength in the...

Accurate control over film thickness and uniformity is essential for throughput and performance in the automotive, aerospace, semiconductor, medical, and research industries. The modern standard for...

MTF measurement usually comprises the optics under test and additional measurement or relay optics. The whitepaper from TRIOPTICS shows that the theoretical measurement error can increase...

Today, process innovation is as important as product innovation to the creation of a competitive product. The entire value chain, from the definition of the specifications based on the needs of the...

Lenses with higher degrees of freedom, such as aspheres and especially freeform surfaces, offer tremendous advantages to the design of optical systems. Their ability to help reduce the number of...

The idea of employing higher-order surfaces in optical systems to improve performance has been around for decades. Designing and fabricating aspheric lenses in larger quantities and at a quality...

The adoption of freeform optics by designers and manufacturers has increased in recent years. With the increase in flexibility, a freeform surface can incorporate a system and bring more...

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...

Volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index throughout the volume of a transparent material, typically a photosensitive glass...

Optical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the fabrication, shaping, finishing, and testing of optical components and systems....

On-board optics refers to optical systems integrated into devices or platforms for various purposes, such as imaging, navigation, communication, and sensing. These systems are crucial in a wide range...

This video hits the key points made in our "Measuring Aspheres in a 3D World" white paper. The white paper provides a basic practical guide on the benefits of 3D measurements of aspheres as well as a...

Tune into this month's edition of Light Matters for some of the highlights from Optifab 2017, as distributors and buyers from all over the world met in the photonics industry hub of Rochester, New...

In this month’s Light Matters Extra, we take you to the Springfield Technical Community College campus and introduce you to Professor Nick Massa, who has been teaching Optics and Photonics there for...

Tune into this month’s edition of Light Matters for the complete list of Photonics Media’s Industry Beacon award winners. We’ll also introduce you to an Industry Beacon in the Educator category, and...

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...

A fabry-perot interferometer is a multiple-beam interferometer, usually consisting of two flat plates, with high reflective ability. The plates are set parallel to one another by spacers so that...

A fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to transmit light from a source to a spectrometer unit, where the light is...

A Fizeau interferometer is an interferometric device that uses the principle of interference to measure the surface flatness and quality of optical components. It consists of a light source,...

ISO 9001 & ISO 13485 certified and D&B DUNS # 113515303 Shanghai Optics is an unparalleled custom system solution provider offering advance precision custom optical design, engineering,...

The LaCroix name is synonymous with quality precision optics. Since 1947, three generations of family leadership have guided LaCroix Precision Optics to become the premier precision optics...

Avantier Inc. is an unparalleled leader in providing innovative imaging systems solutions and optical systems solutions. We offer advance precision custom optical design, optical engineering...

Reynard Corporation has been a premier supplier of custom optics and thin-film coatings to a global customer base since 1984. Reynard focuses on manufacturing the highest quality products with...