Researchers have developed a step-by-step design method for determining which freeform surfaces will work best in a given configuration. The new method, which combines theory and practice, could eliminate the time-consuming, expensive process of using trial-and-error to determine which freeform surfaces will best achieve the desired result. The method developed at the University of Rochester’s Center for Freeform Optics (CeFO) starts with the initial “folding geometry” (alignment of mirrors and lenses) for an optical design and then, based on an analysis of the various...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESIntegrated Metaform Device Delivers Compact AR/VR EyewearA team from the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics imprinted freeform optics with a metasurface, in a combination of optical technologies that charts a course for a new fabrication...Photonics Spectra July 2021 IssueAn Essential Exchange of Ideas Would Benefit the Optics IndustryHighly dispersive mirrors, nanostructured coatings, and freeform optics are the vanguard in optics, and they are well positioned to expand performance and open up new applications. But there’s...Photonics Spectra January 2021 IssueNoncontact Metrology for Aspherical LensesFreeform and aspheric optics have become popular because they provide better performance than traditional optics and can do so with fewer optical elements. The downside of the higher performance is...Photonics Spectra June 2020 IssueOptical Surface Analysis: Focusing on the FundamentalsToday’s instruments for measuring optical components deliver increasingly higher resolution, larger measurement areas, and greater analysis functions. In addition to improving results, the...Photonics Spectra October 2021 IssuePRODUCTSMetal Optic Thin-Film CoatingThin-film coatings on freeform metal optics from AccuCoat Inc. allows for a reduction in nonrecurring engineering tooling charges and shortened lead times. From custom design to prototype, the...Photonics.com 6/17/2021Athermalized Beam CollimatorOptical Surfaces Ltd. has announced an athermalized beam collimator design to deliver stable, high performance across a wide temperature range. The collimators are based on a modified off-axis...Photonics.com 12/7/2021Off-Axis Parabolic MirrorsOff-Axis Parabolic (OAP) Mirrors from Optical Surfaces Ltd. combine the achromatic and diffraction-limited imaging properties of a parabolic mirror with the ability to deviate the light path off-axis...Photonics.com 2/10/2020Lightweight MirrorsLightweight mirror design techniques from Optical Surfaces Ltd. can reduce the weight of a mirror by as much as 60%. Lightweight mirrors are designed to provide sufficient rigidity to ensure...Photonics.com 8/4/2020PHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESPlastic Optics: Specifying Injection-Molded Polymer Optics: The versatility of polymer optics opens new doors for optical designers who understand the whys and hows of specifications.The use of precision polymer optics is becoming an increasing necessity today as products demand sophisticated light handling components to achieve desired results. Polymer optics can be thought of...Photonics HandbookAspheric Lenses: Optimizing the Design: This second of two articles discusses the tools optical designers need to tailor their designs to the appropriate manufacturing process, optimizing the cost of component fabrication.With the understanding of aspheric lens manufacturing provided in part one of this article, designers have the tools to optimize their aspheres; the next step is to understand how to specify and...Photonics HandbookAspheric Lenses: Design Considerations: This first of two articles will cover design and manufacturing options for aspheres; the second will include more detail on manufacturing and testing processes. These articles will provide the tools optics designers need to tailor their designs to the appropriate manufacturing process and to optimize the cost of component fabrication.Aspheric surfaces are powerful tools that combine the optical corrections of multiple lenses into a single element (Figure 1) and affect performance in ways that spherical optics cannot. For example,...Photonics HandbookMeasuring Aspheres: Selecting the Best Technique: The metrology method should match the nature of the part and the inspection constraints.The benefits of aspheric lenses are numerous: They allow for a reduction in spherical aberrations and are ideal for focusing or collimating light, as they can achieve a low ƒ-number. Aspheres...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSEasy to use Computer Generated Holograms for Complex Surface MetrologyThere are many metrology methods on the market for testing aspheres. 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Most of the time you either end up using oversized optics or...Photonics.com 10/25/2021WEBINARSFreeform Surfaces: Resolving Manufacturing ChallengesLenses with higher degrees of freedom, such as aspheres and especially freeform surfaces, offer tremendous advantages to the design of optical systems. Their ability to help reduce the number of...Photonics.com 1/20/2021The Past, Present and Future of Freeform OpticsFree Webinar Post Webinar Notes We will be posting additional questions and answers from the webinar soon. The presentation slides will not be available for download but we will have a list...Photonics.com 11/13/2013Innovation Along the Value Chain: Creating Optics for Metrology ApplicationsToday, process innovation is as important as product innovation to the creation of a competitive product. The entire value chain, from the definition of the specifications based on the needs of the...Photonics.com 4/29/2020Freeform Optics for Imaging: Design MethodsPart 1 of the 2021 Freeform Optics Series The rise of freeform optics in imaging applications has led to optical systems with increased etendue, more compact volumes, and superior performance....Photonics.com 5/26/2021PHOTONICS DICTIONARY TERMSlenticularAn array or mosaic of optical surfaces. May be a number of lenses closely packed to form multiple images or many parallel cylinders used as a projection screen.EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009optical cementA permanent, transparent, and highly transmissive adhesive capable of withstanding extreme temperatures that is applied to optical surfaces for the purpose of cementing, or the sticking together of...EDU.photonics.com 3/5/2018scatterometerAn instrument used to determine the absolute or relative scatter levels of optical surfaces.EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009scattered light filterA specific type of filter designed to reduce the amount of light scattered by reflections from the edges of optical components or mounts, or from irregularities on the optical surfaces.EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009MEDIALight Matters Extra: Optifab 2017 - 10.2017In this month's Light Matters Extra, we give you an in-depth look at North America's largest optical fabrication exhibition and show – Optifab 2017. 188 companies filled the showroom floor of the...Photonics.com 10/26/2017Binding Light in Optics and Photonics - LIGHT MATTERS 11.2017Tune into this month's edition of Light Matters for 'Part 1' of an exclusive interview with SPIE CEO, Eugene Arthurs, as he speaks about his upcoming retirement. We’ll also take you to Rochester,...Photonics.com 11/17/2017Optics and Photonics at the Hub of the Industry - LIGHT MATTERS 10.2017Tune into this month's edition of Light Matters for some of the highlights from Optifab 2017, as distributors and buyers from all over the world met in the photonics industry hub of Rochester, New...Photonics.com 10/26/2017Light Matters Extra: Lightning Awards Luminate Rochester - 11/2017In this month's Light Matters Extra, we give you an in-depth look at the recent Luminate Lightning Awards. New York’s Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was there and tells us why Luminate is important...Photonics.com 11/17/2017PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESFreeform OpticsAngular and Linear Measuring InterferometersScatterometersA scatterometer is an instrument used to determine the absolute or relative scatter levels of optical surfaces.Aspheric LensesAn aspheric lens is a lens element in which at least one face is shaped to a surface of revolution about the lens axis, including conic sections but excluding a sphere.COMPANIESShanghai Optics Inc.Shanghai Optics is a leading manufacturer of advanced optical components and optical assemblies. Shanghai Optics is an unparalleled custom optical solution provider offering custom optical design and...Photonics Buyers' GuideLaCroix Precision OpticsOptics that Defend, Build, Cure and Discover The LaCroix name is synonymous with quality precision optics. Since 1947, three generations of family leadership have placed LaCroix Precision Optics...Photonics Buyers' GuideFresnel Technologies Inc.Fresnel Technologies Inc. is an expert manufacturer of molded plastic optics, including Fresnel lenses and related optical components, as well as infrared transmitting materials and optics made from...Photonics Buyers' GuideDiverse Optics Inc.Diverse Optics transforms optical systems from expensive, heavy, and complicated to commercially viable, lightweight, and simple. We manufacture custom precision polymer optic components and...Photonics Buyers' Guide