Designing optical systems with hot and cold mirrors
Filters for selecting specific wavelengths are common in optical systems. In our microscope design article we explained the use of dichroic mirrors to select fluorescent wavelengths. In some applications optical engineers need to filter out high (UV light) or lower frequencies (IR light). These kinds of filters are called “Hot and Cold mirrors” . For […]
Essential Optical Materials for Superior Infrared and Thermal Optics Selection
The selection of optical materials is a critical step in the design of infrared optics. Traditional optical materials (optical glasses and plastics) used in the design of visible radiation optics aren’t suitable due to their high light absorption coefficient in the infrared range. Special materials with minimal possible absorption coefficients for infrared light are required. […]
Steering Mirrors In LIDAR Systems
This is our third installment of a four-series blogs about steering mirrors. We have talked previously about steering mirrors in laser markings and steering mirrors in OCT systems. This week, we will talk about the steering mirror requirements for those in LIDAR systems. In the past we, have talked about the lens design in LIDAR […]
10 suppliers of off-the-shelf lenses
In certain projects, the best lens design choice is not to design. While high volume production costs savings for a custom design are considerable, there are times when delivery time requirements don’t permit the use of a custom design, or when an existing lens used in high volume for a different application can be re-purposed. […]
Expanding Zemax Capabilities with User Defined Objects
To assist with the computation of the paths of millions of light rays, optical engineers use specialized software to design and simulate optical systems. Zemax is the most popular optical design software and the one I prefer. It includes many built-in functions and objects but sometimes more specific objects are required. Zemax therefore allows user […]
Questions and Answers optical resolution
In the world of imaging and optics, achieving clarity and precision is paramount. Whether it’s for quality control, machine vision, or barcode reading, understanding the intricacies of image resolution plays a vital role in ensuring the success of various applications. In this blog post, we delve into an insightful email exchange between us and one […]