Synopsys Names Winners of Optical Design Contest

Three students from the University of Rochester and one from the University of Arizona were named winners of the 2013 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition on Wednesday by contest sponsor Synopsys.

Matthew Bergkoetter, James Corsetti and Jonathan Papa of Rochester and Tzu-Yu Wu of Arizona were recognized for their demonstration of strong optical design knowledge and innovative use of the company's Code V and LightTools software, Synopsys said. The annual competition, open to students in North America working toward bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees, was established in 2000 by Optical Research Associates — now the Optical Solutions Group at Synopsys — in honor of ORA's former president and CEO Robert S. Hilbert.

Bergkoetter was recognized for his work on biometric imaging using Code V, as documented in his paper, "Extended Depth of Field in an Intrinsically Wavefront-Encoded Biometric Iris Camera." To make it easier to align and focus on a human eye in an iris recognition system, Bergkoetter optimized his design to increase the lens system's depth of field. Potential applications include identity authentication and facility access control.

In his paper, "Design of a Gradient-Index Zoom Lens over the Mid-Wave Infrared," which describes his project using Code V, Corsetti explores the use of gradient-index (GRIN) materials in zoom lens systems to improve imaging performance in the MWIR. GRIN elements in such a system can be useful for correcting chromatic aberrations, or color fringing, for night-vision, navigation and medical imaging applications.

Papa was recognized for his Code V project, "220 Degree Field of View Fisheye Lens for Full Frame SLR Camera." With assistance from Code V's Glass Expert tool, which uses a unique algorithm to select the best set of glasses for a user's lens design, Papa produced a design that features fewer lens elements, a smaller package size and improved imaging performance over traditional fish-eye lenses. Potential applications include panoramic photography and meteorological imaging systems.

Wu used both Code V and LightTools in "Development of Confocal Microendoscopy for Precancer Detection." Wu designed a miniature lens in Code V for use in a confocal microendoscope with high resolution for cellular visualization. In LightTools, he performed stray-light analysis to simulate and fix any issues created by potential unwanted light in the optical system. His design is intended for medical imaging systems that provide early cancer detection.

For more information, visit the contest website or www.synopsys.com