Microscopy is a fundamental technique used to analyze samples that are too small to be perceived without magnification. It is used in multiple sciences, from biology, medicine, chemistry to anthropology, and any science where small samples are...
Autumn is almost here and with that, hunting season. 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 that hunting is a big part...
Basic Concepts One of the most common optical structures is the achromatic doublet. It is used to reduce chromatic aberrations. At its most basic, it is a two lens system configuration where one lens is a concave lens, usually made of a flint glass, and the other is...
An optical system is only as strong as its weakest link. When designing an imaging system, sensor resolution is just one important factor and it is important to ensure sensors and detectors are well matched. Take these scenarios: Taking a selfie with your cockadoodle...
In many applications of lens design, avoiding chromatic aberrations is a key performance requirement. In this video, we review some of the causes of chromatic aberrations and methods to correct them. •All optical media have dispersion, meaning the index of...
Updated July 2020. Most visual imaging applications require a well-focused image at a range of distances. Traditionally, good focus at multiple depths required either using large lenses with a suitable depth of field, mechanically-driven zoom, or auto-focus lenses....
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...
Overview OFH works on many different types of projects, each with its unique goals and deliverables. For illustration, here is a breakdown of a lens design project from 2012. Our client produced a very low cost diagnostic microscope to view saliva with 30x...
Updated June 2020. A straightforward question, with no direct answer. The price of lenses depends on the design complexity, material, manufacturing process, and production series size. A mass-produced lens, made from injection-molded plastic at volume 500,000 units,...
There are two primary methods of image formation in lens design. Perspective projection (F-Tan Theta lenses also called Rectilinear or Orthoscopic). Equidistant projection (F-Theta lenses also called Equiangular) The Perspective projection method is most often used...
Laser sources are typically used in 3D depth mapping of random and pseudo-random pattern projectors. This is because laser sources are coherent enough to diffract through a diffractive optical element (DOE), unlike non-coherent sources (LED), which can't. The downside...
All roadway lamps must be designed according to specific standards. The most popular ones are a US standard called "IESNA RP 8-00 Roadway lightning" and a European one called "CIE 140-2000 Road lighting calculations". In the case of CIE 140-2000, the standard only...
In the past several years, smartphone cameras have taken a big step forward. The image quality of the best iPhone, Samsung, and HTC cameras is equivalent to low-priced Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony DSLR cameras. Many prefer taking photos with smartphones due to...
Planning for manufacturing The right time to start planning for production is at the start of an optical engineering project. Design is closely tied to manufacturing and early choices will be greatly impacted by the anticipated production method. It is not unusual to...
According to ISO 10110 standard, optical coatings are divided into protective and functional coatings. Protective types are coated onto optical elements when the safety of optical surfaces matters and a functional coating is needed. For example, an optical device to...
Based on ISO 10110 standard, one of the key parameters in optical drawings is the radius of curvature of lens surfaces. It is specified on the first line of the surfaces column in the table of parameters. You can click here to review. The lens optical properties are...
Updated June 2020. Our recent post described how to read optical production drawings. One of the parameters frequently found in optical drawings, "Datum Surface," should be covered more closely. Datum definition As defined by both ISO and ANSI technical standards,...
Updated June 2020. In our previous article, we discussed how to read optical drawings while in this installment, we will focus on surface finish details. Optical lens performance can be heavily affected by the lens surface roughness. The surface texture symbols are...
OFH has designed over 100 custom LED optics and reflectors, including streetlights, flashlights and automotive lighting. But recently we helped out on one of our most compelling projects.Design that Matters, a nonprofit focused on creating products to improve the...
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.
