In the realm of bicycle lighting, adhering to stringent standards ensures not only compliance with legal requirements but also the safety and convenience of cyclists. One of the most critical standards in this domain is the STVZO (Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung),...
One parameter that can be used to evaluate the quality of a laser beam is what's called a Beam Caustic. A caustic, in general, is an “envelope” that defines the extent of a beam of light after they have been refracted (or reflected ) by a curved surface. As the...
We explained the use and design of laser headlights and adaptive headlights in auto industry
In a previous article we talked about Aviation Light Optics. and discussed a runway light system called Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). Now we would like to go more in detail into PAPI design and describe their design requirements. The PAPI system...
In the last month, I have had the need to travel several times by airplane. So, after several hours enjoying $15 sodas, and $30 hamburgers at the airport gates, I started paying more attention to the different illumination systems that are being used in the aviation...
A conoscopic lens is an instrument that can be used to measure the angular distribution of a light source. Its use is quite different from a lens, as in photography. An image created by a conoscopic lens resembles that of a fisheye lens. That is a...
Anyone who has peaked through a hotel room peephole has used a fish eye lens. Usually, the fish eye lens has a very short focal length (less than 15mm for a 35mm-size image sensor), but a large field of view (FOV). The latter can be as large as...
When doing optical simulations using a program like ZEMAX, we can choose to do our simulations using two modes: sequential and non-sequential optics. Sequential optics, as the name indicates, follows the optical path of light as it goes from one surface to the next....
The design of an underwater camera lens can be challenging due to the large number of variables at play. As with every optical system design, the selection of cameras, lenses, housings, and operational parameters greatly influences the performance of the complete...
Simple method to generate a light-pipe from a keyboard overmold
One important aspect of any design is user safety. This is especially important when using light sources like lasers and LEDs that may be observed by the naked eye. Disregarding safety can lead to product recalls, lawsuits, and harm to users. To protect users, a...
Working principle of TIR lenses: A TIR lens works on the principle of total internal reflection. When light reaches an interface between two materials with different refractive indices and the correct angle of incidence, there is refraction (bending of a light ray...
In applications such as concert show lighting, architectural lighting, and cinema projection, good color mixing is essential. The optics design in front of a RGBW LED source must include optimization for color uniformity as well as beam shape. A common solution is to...
Updated July 2020. Freeform lenses (including TIR lenses) and lightpipes are the two most common types of LED illumination optics. They can be made using injection molding and are affordable. Glass materials are not common for general illumination, but are used for...
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...
LightFair International (LFI) is the premier lighting exhibition in the US and it draws thousands each year. LFI is equal lighting education and product showcase with the first half of the conference filled with panel discussions, keynote events, and seminars with...
Since the start of the LED lighting revolution, plastic optics have been made primarily from acrylic (PMMA), polycarbonate or a modified version of either material (for example PMMI). More recently, silicon-based optical materials have grown in market share. These...
6 questions to consider for writing a good requirements document for an LED illumination project, by John Ellis founder of Optics for Hire Need assistance designing a custom illumination optic, lens or light pipe? Learn more about our design services here. 6 questions...
New video about using LED optics in the design of lighting systems Need help? Click here to learn more about our custom illumination optic design services.
Need assistance designing a custom illumination optic, lens or light pipe? Learn more about our design services here.
