Optical coatings, including reflective and dielectric variants, enhance the performance of optical components.
Optical coatings, including reflective and dielectric variants, enhance the performance of optical components.
A beam splitter cube is a key component of a Polarizing Beam Splitter, also known as a polarization beam splitter or polarized beam splitter.
The Difference Between a Mirror and a Lens lies in their use of a reflective surface, with various types of mirrors available.
High precision optical tolerances are essential for ensuring the precise dimensions and quality of optical components.
Key Takeaways The fisheye lens, with variations such as full-frame and circular fisheye lenses, is explored in terms of lens features and applications in the content. Wide-angle lenses capture panoramic views with straight lines, suitable for diverse scenarios. Fisheye lenses offer a unique spherical perspective with barrel distortion, serving surveillance and creative purposes. Both lenses enhance images with wider views and detail, proving valuable in daily situations. Selecting Between Fisheye Lens and Wide-Angle Lens Both fisheye and wide-angle lenses are used in situations that need a wide field of vision. Either one provides an extensive visual angle. So, what distinguishes one from the other? And what is the best situation for each type of lens? If you need lenses that can provide you with a wider vision, then you’re on the right webpage. Read on to know more about the differences between wide-angle and fisheye lenses. Also, learn the various practical applications of the two lenses. Wide-Angle Lens What Is a Wide-Angle Lens? Also known as short lenses, wide-angle lenses have a smaller focal length. With a focal length of about 24 mm to 35 mm, it shows a larger angle of view than standard lenses. This is perfect for capturing wide panoramic views of the scenery. The view through a wide-angle lens gives you a wide background with sharp images of objects in the foreground. Some distortion may occur, giving a sense of distance between objects in the foreground and the background. Lens Features of Wide-Angle Lenses Straight lines – Wide-angle lenses frame panoramic scenes while keeping lines straight. With little to no distortion, the sweeping view of the landscape appears vast and majestic. Deep depth of field – Using wide-angle lenses emphasizes the distance or size of an object in the foreground in relation to the wide background. The objects nearby look large and clear, while objects further away appear smaller and a bit blurry. Less chromatic aberration – Wide-angle lenses experience little color distortion compared to fisheye lenses. It means clearer images without unwanted colors. Fisheye Lens What Is a Fisheye Lens? It falls under the special category of ultra-wide-angle lenses. It has a parabolic lens that protrudes in front with a focal length of about 6 mm to 16 mm. It gives a wide view with 180 degrees of vision, sometimes reaching up to 230 degrees. It also creates a barrel distortion in the frame, giving the image curved edges. This is because the lens mimics the curved eye of a fish, giving us a fisheye view of our surroundings. This type of lens provides us with a refreshing spherical perspective of the world. Now, there are two types of fisheye lenses: the full-frame fisheye lens and the circular fisheye lens. Full-frame Fisheye Lens: A full-frame fisheye lens produces images that fill the rectangular frame. It sports the signature distortion of a fisheye, bending the lines from the center to taper toward the edges. Circular Fisheye Lens: As the name suggests, a circular fisheye lens produces a circular image. The image inside the circle is often surrounded by a black square or slightly rectangular frame. Lens Features of Fisheye Lenses Closer focus – Fisheye lenses are great for capturing subjects that are very close. The curve of the lenses puts more focus on objects in front. The forefront object is sharp and colorful, with the sides curving to taper slightly. Small and lightweight – Fisheye lenses are smaller than standard lenses and weigh less, as well. It also comes with a smaller sensor size. This makes it more portable and easier to install in hidden cameras, body cams, and surveillance systems. Deep depth of field – Ultra wide-angle lenses, paired with a small aperture, produce sharp and clear images from the foreground to the background. This puts everything into focus, making it perfect for observing every object in the frame. Barrel distortion – The images show some optical distortion, having curved lines at the edges of the frame. While this type of distortion is a problem in cheap lenses, it is the main feature of fisheye lenses, highlighting their unique lens feature. It provides a dynamic view of the surroundings. When Are Wide-Angle Lenses Used? Wide-angle lenses are used to capture wide and sweeping views in a frame. The following are some applications of wide-angle lenses. Poor lighting conditions – The wide angle reduces the camera shake, making it perform well even in low-light scenarios. Surveillance – The ability to view large expanses is preferable for surveillance work. Clear images are captured by these lenses, getting much-needed details like faces and car registration numbers. Capturing large crowds – Large events with a lot of attendees are best seen through a wide-angle lens. It frames a large number of the crowd without distorting the image much. Landscape photography – These wide-angle lenses can encompass the vastness of landscapes and buildings in a single frame. It gives a larger-than-life feel to the viewer. Smartphones – The smartphones we use have built-in wide-angle lenses for the rear-facing camera. This lets us put more in the frame, even at close range. Quality lenses, like on the iPhone, produce clearer and better images. When Are Fisheye Lenses Used? Though fisheye lenses are considered specialty lenses, they have a lot of practical applications in real life. Here are some of the common uses of fisheye lenses. Door viewer – A door viewer, more commonly known as a peephole, employs fisheye lenses to give the person a larger field of vision even through a small hole. The ultra-wide lens lets the person inside the door look at who is in front and also inspect the surroundings outside for possible danger. Surveillance cameras – Security cameras often use fisheye lenses to get a wider view of the frame. This lets one camera cover larger areas reducing the number of cameras needed to watch every space. Sporting activities – Extreme sports such as downhill mountain biking, parasailing, and skateboarding are some sporting events that benefit from a fisheye camera lens. Action cameras use fisheye
Key Takeaways Infrared camera lenses, crucial for thermal imaging, optimize performance based on focal length and the specific infrared lens wavelength range. Lenses are made from infrared-transparent materials like germanium, silicon, and zinc selenide, providing unique optical properties. Focal length is critical; longer lengths enhance long-range detection, while shorter lengths offer a wider field of view. InGaAs sensors represent a breakthrough, providing improved sensitivity and reduced noise for short-wave infrared (SWIR) applications. Meticulous design of infrared lenses and systems finds applications in defense, security, medicine, and industrial inspection. Wavelength Optimization in Infrared Lens Design Infrared lens design and assemblies are crucial in the development of advanced imaging and sensing technologies. These technologies have found widespread use in a variety of applications, including night vision, thermal imaging, and long-range surveillance. Design and assembly of infrared lenses The design and assembly of infrared lenses involve a range of optical systems that are optimized for different wavelength ranges. For instance, long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras can detect thermal radiation in the 8-12 µm wavelength range, while mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras can detect radiation in the 3-5 µm range. Short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging operates in the 0.9-1.7 µm range. Camera Core and Thermal Imaging Sensors The key component of any infrared imaging system is the camera core, which contains the imaging sensor and lens assembly. In many cases, uncooled thermal imaging sensors, such as those based on microbolometer technology, are used in the camera core. These sensors can detect thermal radiation without requiring cooling, which makes them ideal for use in portable and low-power systems. The lens assembly used in an infrared camera is typically made from materials that are transparent to infrared radiation, such as germanium, silicon, and zinc selenide. These materials have unique optical properties that make them suitable for use in infrared optics, including high refractive indices, low dispersion, and good transmission in the infrared wavelength range. Focal Length Impact on Infrared Camera Lens Performance The focal length of an infrared lens assembly is critical to the overall performance of the camera. A longer focal length can improve the long-range detection capabilities of the camera, while a shorter focal length can provide a wider field of view. In addition to the lens assembly, infrared cameras may also include other optical components, such as filters and mirrors, that are used to control the spectral response and improve the overall performance of the camera. One important development in the field of infrared imaging is the use of InGaAs sensors for SWIR imaging. These sensors offer improved sensitivity and lower noise compared to traditional SWIR sensors, which makes them ideal for use in applications such as spectroscopy and industrial inspection. Overall, the design and assembly of infrared lenses and optical systems are critical to the performance and capabilities of infrared imaging technologies. By optimizing the design of these systems, researchers and engineers can develop advanced imaging and sensing technologies that have a wide range of applications in fields such as defense, security, and medicine. Related Content
Objective lenses, essential in optical instruments, require aberration correction to optimize performance and influence field of view.
An optical drawing is a detailed plan that allows us to manufacture optical components according to a design and given specifications. When optical designers and engineers come up with a design, they condense it in an optical drawing that can be understood by manufacturers anywhere. ISO 10110 is the most popular standard for optical drawing. It describes all optical parts in terms of tolerance and geometric dimension. The image below shows the standard format of an optical drawing. Notice thee main fields. The upper third, shown here in blue, is called the drawing field. Under this the green area is known as the table field, and below this the title field or, alternately, the title block (shown here in yellow). Once an optical drawing is completed, it will look something like this: Notice the three fields— the drawing field, the table field, and the title field. We’ll look at each of them in turn. Field I — Drawing Field The drawing field contains a sketch or schematic of the optical component or assembly. In the drawing here, we see key information on surface texture, lens thickness, and lens diameter. P3 means level 3 polished, and describes the surface texture. Surface texture tells us how close to a perfectly flat ideal plane our surface is, and how extensive are the deviations. 63 refers to the lens diameter, the physical measurement of the diameter of the front-most part of the lens 12 refers to the lens thickness, the distance along the optical axis between the two surfaces of the lens After reviewing the drawing field we know this is a polished bi-convex lens, and we know exactly how large and how thick it is. But there is more we need to know before we begin production. To find this additional information, we look at the table field. Field 2— Table Field In our example, the optical component has two optical surfaces, and table field is broken into three subfields. The left subfield refers to the specifications of the left surface, and the right subfield refers to the specifications of the right surface. The middle field refers to the specifications of the material. Surface Specifications: Sometimes designers will indicate “CC” or “CX” after radius of curvature, CC means concave, CX means convex. Material Specifications: 1/ : Bubbles and Inclusions Usually written as 1/AxB where A is the number of allowed bubbles or inclusions in lens B is the length of side of a square in units of mm 2/ : Homogeneity and Striae Usually written as 2/A;B where A is the class number for homogeneity B is the class for striae Field 3: Title Field The last field on an optical drawing is called the title field, and it is here that all the bookkeeping happens. The author of the drawing, the date it was drawn, and the project title will be listed here, along with applicable standards. Often there will also be room for an approval, for a revision count, and for the project company. A final crucial piece of information is the scale: is the drawing done in 1:1, or some other scale? Now you know how to read an optical drawing and where to find the information you’re looking for. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us!
An IR lens is an optical lens designed to collimate, focus, or collect infrared light. At Avantier Inc., we produce high performance IR Optics such as IR lenses for use with near-infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MIR), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectra. These Infrared lenses can be customized for specific areas of the infrared spectrum, and are suitable for applications in defense, life science, medical, research, security, surveillance and other industries. Why Choose Avantier for Your Infrared Optics Needs Whether you require one-off production of single infrared (IR) lens assembly for a specialized research project or a large quantity of fixed-focus IR lenses for industry use, you need to know you can count on your provider. When you work with Avantier, you know you are getting the best product possible, at the best possible price. Our engineers design for manufacturability and work hard to ensure you get an optimized product at an optimal price and within an optimal time frame. That’s because we’ve done it, again and again. Our extensive experience in infrared optics enables us to both design and produce the highest quality lenses and assemblies for IR light. State of the art metrology and a robust quality control program means that every lens with the Avantier name on it will perform exactly as intended, and we check and double check that each component meets your full specification. Our manufacturing processes meet all applicable ISO and MIL standards, and our IR lenses are well known throughout the world. Types of Infrared Lenses Infrared light is classified as light between the wavelengths of 1 mm to about 700 nm. Infrared IR radiation can be further divided into several categories: The substrate chosen for a lens will depend partly on which IR region it is designed for. For instance, Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) lenses are a good choice for radiation between 80 nm – 8 μm and so would be ideal for NIR SWIR wavelengths. Zinc Selenide has optimal transmission from 8 – 12μm, although it offers partial transmission over 0.45 μm to 21.5 μm and Zinc Sulfide (good transmission in 8-12µm, or partial transmission from 0.35 to 14µm). Avantier and IR Lens Design Our experienced engineers and consultants can help you determine the best substrate and antireflective or reflective coating best fits your application. Every situation is unique, and we can help you find a cost effective solution that meets your need. Whether you need special resistance to mechanical and thermal shock, or good performance in rugged environments, we can select the perfect substrate for you. We can also help design your IR lens or optical lens assembly. From basic lens selection (singlet, aspherical lens, spheric lens, cylindrical lens, custom shape lens) to design of aspheric lenses arranged in a complex opto-mechanical device, or any other infrared optical assembly, we have you covered. Avantier can provide lenses in chalcogenide material. Chalcogenide is an amorphous glass and is easier to process than traditional IR crystalline materials. Chalcogenide glass is an ideal material for both high performance infrared imaging systems and high volume commercial applications. Chalcogenide glass is available in a variety of chemical composition options, but BD6, composed of arsenic and selenium (As 40 Se 60), is the best choice in terms of cost and ease of production. Chalcogenide infrared glass materials and lenses are also an excellent alternative to expensive, commodity price-driven materials such as Ge, ZnSe, and ZnS2. Chalcogenide glass primarily transmits in the MWIR and LWIR wavelength bands, making it suitable for infrared imaging applications. Please contact us if you’d like to schedule a free consultation or request for a quote on your next project.
A microscope is an optical device designed to magnify the image of an object, enabling details indiscernible to the human eye to be differentiated. A microscope may project the image onto the human eye or onto a camera or video device. Historically microscopes were simple devices composed of two elements. Like a magnifying glass today, they produced a larger image of an object placed within the field of view. Today, microscopes are usually complex assemblies that include an array of lenses, filters, polarizers, and beamsplitters. Illumination is arranged to provide enough light for a clear image, and sensors are used to ‘see’ the object. Although today’s microscopes are usually far more powerful than the microscopes used historically, they are used for much the same purpose: viewing objects that would otherwise be indiscernible to the human eye. Here we’ll start with a basic compound microscope and go on to explore the components and function of larger more complex microscopes. We’ll also take an in-depth look at one of the key parts of a microscope, the objective lens. Compound Microscope: A Closer Look While a magnifying glass consists of just one lens element and can magnify any element placed within its focal length, a compound lens, by definition, contains multiple lens elements. A relay lens system is used to convey the image of the object to the eye or, in some cases, to camera and video sensors. A basic compound microscope could consist of just two elements acting in relay, the objective and the eyepiece. The objective relays a real image to the eyepiece, while magnifying that image anywhere from 4-100x. The eyepiece magnifies the real image received typically by another 10x, and conveys a virtual image to the sensor. There are two major specifications for a microscope: the magnification power and the resolution. The magnification tells us how much larger the image is made to appear. The resolution tells us how far away two points must be to be distinguishable. The smaller the resolution, the larger the resolving power of the microscope. The highest resolution you can get with a light microscope is 0.2 microns (0.2 microns), but this depends on the quality of both the objective and eyepiece. Both the objective lens and the eyepiece also contribute to the overall magnification of the system. If an objective lens magnifies the object by 10x and the eyepiece by 2x, the microscope will magnify the object by 20. If the microscope lens magnifies the object by 10x and the eyepiece by 10x, the microscope will magnify the object by 100x. This multiplicative relationship is the key to the power of microscopes, and the prime reason they perform so much better than simply magnifying glasses. In modern microscopes, neither the eyepiece nor the microscope objective is a simple lens. Instead, a combination of carefully chosen optical components work together to create a high quality magnified image. A basic compound microscope can magnify up to about 1000x. If you need higher magnification, you may wish to use an electron microscope, which can magnify up to a million times. Microscope Eyepieces The eyepiece or ocular lens is the part of the microscope closest to your eye when you bend over to look at a specimen. An eyepiece usually consists of two lenses: a field lens and an eye lens. If a larger field of view is required, a more complex eyepiece that increases the field of view can be used instead. Microscope Objective Microscope objective lenses are typically the most complex part of a microscope. Most microscopes will have three or four objectives lenses, mounted on a turntable for ease of use. A scanning objective lens will provide 4x magnification, a low power magnification lens will provide magnification of 10x, and a high power objective offers 40x magnification. For high magnification, you will need to use oil immersion objectives. These can provide up to 50x, 60x, or 100x magnification and increase the resolving power of the microscope, but they cannot be used on live specimens. An microscope objective may be either reflective or refractive. It may also be either finite conjugate or infinite conjugate. Refractive Objectives Refractive objectives are so-called because the elements bend or refract light as it passes through the system. They are well suited to machine vision applications, as they can provide high resolution imaging of very small objects or ultra fine details. Each element within a refractive element is typically coated with an anti-reflective coating. A basic achromatic objective is a refractive objective that consists of just an achromatic lens and a meniscus lens, mounted within appropriate housing. The design is meant to limit the effects of chromatic and spherical aberration as they bring two wavelengths of light to focus in the same plane. Plan Apochromat objectives can be much more complex with up to fifteen elements. They can be quite expensive, as would be expected from their complexity. Reflective Objectives A reflective objective works by reflecting light rather than bending it. Primary and secondary mirror systems both magnify and relay the image of the object being studied. While reflective objectives are not as widely used as refractive objectives, they offer many benefits. They can work deeper in the UV or IR spectral regions, and they are not plagued with the same aberrations as refractive objectives. As a result, they tend to offer better resolving power. Microscope Illumination Most microscopes rely on background illumination such as daylight or a lightbulb rather than a dedicated light source. In brightfield illumination (also known as Koehler illumination), two convex lenses, a collector lens and a condenser lens, are placed so as to saturate the specimen with external light admitted into the microscope from behind. This provides a bright, even, steady light throughout the system. Key Microscope Objective Lens Terminology There are some important specifications and terminology you’ll want to be aware of when designing a microscope or ordering microscope objectives. Here is a list of key terminology. Numerical Aperture Numerical aperture NA denotes