Uses of Sapphire explained; IR optics, laser optics, windows
Introduction You may not be aware but you probably have in your hands one of the toughest substances in the world right now. If you own a good quality watch chances are that it has a sapphire glass. Also, some versions of Appla watches and almost all mobile phones use sapphire lenses on their cameras. […]
What is Birefringence?
In a previous post, we explained the concept of a material refractive index in optics in the context of optical design. Something that we didn’t review however is that many materials have two, three (and even more) different refractive indices depending on the direction and polarization of light. This is a very interesting (and often […]
Using Auto-Collimators for Optical Assemblies
Optical alignment with auto-collimators The field of optics has witnessed remarkable advancements over the years, enabling the development of increasingly complex and precise optical assemblies. In this pursuit of perfection, engineers and researchers have turned to specialized tools like auto-collimators to ensure the accuracy and alignment of optical components. An auto-collimator is a versatile optical […]
3 Rules For Plano Convex Lens Design
Plano convex lens design is simple compared to many optical systems, but there are fine details that a lens designer needs to pay attention to. Plano convex lenses are lenses with a positive focal length. This is a very common configuration, and a plano convex can be manufactured in different glass types, with different coatings, […]
Which is better a CCD or CMOS image sensor?
CCD vs CMOS CCD and CMOS are both image sensors. They can be found in any device that creates an image. Cameras, webcams, mobile phones. They are one of the most common consumer electronics in world. For many years there has been a debate about which image sensor: CCD or CMOS. Let’s just make clear […]
Types of Optical Designs used for Rifle Scopes
Autumn is almost here and with that, hunting season, which means you need to choose a good rifle scope. Hunting is so popular in my state that it is a non-official holiday where school is “canceled” and congress gets the day off. I’m not sure if that happens elsewhere but it is fair to say […]