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design Dictionary Terms

log converter
A device designed to convert linear change in the light state at input to log data at output.
photon sieve
A photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
binocular microscope
A microscope designed with two eyepieces (oculars), permitting the use of both eyes when viewing through the instrument.
photonic crystals
Photonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
mid-infrared camera
A mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
deep learning
Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
process lens
A lens that is symmetrical and designed to work between 1:1 and about 4:1. It covers a field of about ±20° at f/8...
quartz plate
A crystalline-quartz plate designed according to specifications but having its two major faces parallel.
helium-neon laser
A helium-neon (HeNe) laser is a type of gas laser that emits visible red light at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It operates...
near-infrared camera
A near-infrared (NIR) camera is an imaging device designed to capture images in the near-infrared region of the...
contrast filter
A filter designed to improve contrast in an imaging system. For visual and black and white photosystems, a yellow filter is...
compensating eyepiece
A microscope eyepiece designed for use with apochromatic objectives. Since apochromatic objectives are undercorrected for...
functional material
Functional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
photovoltaic
Photovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
Wehnelt cylinder
Also known as cathode-ray tube grid or shield. A cylindrically shaped electrode that, containing the cathode of a...
optical design software
Optical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
CoaXPress
CoaXPress (CoaXPress or CXP) is a standardized digital interface and communication protocol used primarily in machine vision...
Gaussian optics
1. That branch of optics that illustrates the theory in which q is substituted for sin q in Snell's law. Effective results...
optical filter
An optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
laser optics
Laser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
corrector plate
An optical element designed to correct each zone of a reflector or refractor for spherical aberration.
freeform optics
Freeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
blur circle
A blur circle refers to the out-of-focus region in an image captured by an optical system. When an object in a scene is not...
light sheet fluorescence microscopy
Also known as single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), this process was designed for imaging of sensitive samples and...
bandwidth
The range of frequencies over which a particular instrument is designed to function within specified limits. See also fiber...
custom optic
A custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
quantum efficiency
Quantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
micro-LED
Micro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
infrared optic
Infrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
broadband filter
A broadband filter is an electronic or electromagnetic device designed to pass a range of frequencies or signals within a...
binocular
Designating any instrument in which both eyes can be used to view the image to achieve a stereoscopic effect, or merely to...
sheet grating
A three-dimensional grating designed with thin metal sheets to remain opaque to all but one specific and predetermined wave.
RTSP protocol
RTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
Geometrical optics
The area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
x-ray streak camera
A diagnostic instrument that uses a photocathode design to see a broad range of x-ray radiation by streaking the...
aberration sensor (wavefront sensor)
Designed for the function of optical wavefront analysis. Shack-Hartmann camera aberration sensors use a lens array to image...
entrance slit
The entrance slit, also known simply as the slit, is an essential component in optical instruments such as spectrometers and...
mode
1. The characteristic of how light propagates through a waveguide that can be designated by a radiation pattern in a plane...
single-photon avalanche diode
A single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
biocular
A term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The...
electro-optic transistor
A transistor designed to respond to either light or electrical signals.
kinematic mount
A mount for an optic element or optics assembly, designed so that all six degrees of freedom are singly constrained. This...
acousto-optic deflector
A system designed with a laser as a light source and a means for producing sound waves extending beyond 100 MHz to deflect...
microprojector
A miniature projecting device designed to enhance and reproduce the image generated by a smaller image-forming instrument....
red, green, blue
RGB stands for red, green, blue, which are the primary colors of light used in additive color mixing. The RGB color model is...
periscope
An optical instrument designed to displace the line of sight in a vertical direction. For submarines and other military uses...
infrared detector
An infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
exciton
An exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
laser cavity
A laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
flight path deviation indicator
An instrument designed to give a visual indication to the pilot when the plane has strayed from a specific flight path.
lens blank
A lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
well plate
A well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
axial gradient technology
A method of designing lasers whereby the laser rod is cut into elliptical discs and cooled by running water over the disc...
laser damage threshold
The laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
Seidel aberrations
Seidel aberrations refer to a set of monochromatic aberrations in optical systems, named after the German mathematician and...
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of optical lens that consists of a series of concentric grooves or steps carved into a flat, thin...
structural color
Structural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
electron multiplication charge-coupled device camera
An EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
Geissler tube
A specific gas-filled tube designed to illustrate the luminous effects of discharges through rarefied gases.
chromatic aberration
Chromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
total radiation pyrometer
Also known as a pyrradiometer. An instrument that is designed to measure heat radiation nonselectively; e.g., the...
convolutional neural network
A powerful and flexible machine-learning approach that can be used in machine vision to help solve difficult problems....
attenuation
Attenuation refers to the gradual loss or reduction of intensity, force, or magnitude of a particular property as it...
point spread function
The point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
comparator
1. An eyepiece or magnifier with a scale at its image plane. That scale is placed in contact with an object, permitting...
light diffusion
Light diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
optics
Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
spectroreflectometer
A spectrophotometer specially designed to measure spectral reflectance.
mesoscope
In the field of optics and imaging, a mesoscope refers to an optical instrument that is designed to observe and capture...
design and engineering consulting services
Design and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
contour projector
An inspection device in which the profile of a mechanical part is projected onto a ground-glass screen at a precisely known...
optical encoder
A device designed to measure linear or rotary motion by detection of the movement of markings on a transparent medium past a...
3D printing
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
baffle
An opaque shielding device designed to reduce the effect of stray light on an optical system.
mid-wave infrared
MWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
thin lens relationships
Formulas designating the relationships between image distance, object distance, focal length, refractive index, etc., of a...
distance of distinct vision
The near-point distance of the normal eye. The value of 10 in. or 25 cm is normal. This value is used in evaluating the...
indium gallium arsenide camera
An InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
astronomical observatory
A facility designed for the observation and recording of astronomical phenomena.
freeform mirrors
Freeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
panoramic camera
A camera designed to form a continuous record of an expansive section of the horizon. The typical panoramic camera is...
phase mask
In optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
classification duration
For a laser, the maximum exposure time that the laser design allows; 0.25 seconds for a Class 2 laser.
mercury arc
An electric arc that is formed in mercury vapor through which an electric current flows. The intensity of the illumination...
breakout cable
A breakout cable, also known as a fan-out cable or breakout assembly, is a type of cable that combines multiple individual...
apochromat
An apochromat, often referred to as an apochromatic lens or apochromatic objective, is a type of optical system designed to...
lab-on-a-chip
A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
minimum object distance
Minimum object distance, often abbreviated as MOD, refers to the closest distance at which a camera lens or optical system...
process camera
A photographic camera designed to produce reproduction film of visual information (pictures, line drawings, graphs) for...
parallelogram distortion
In a camera or cathode-ray tube, distortion that is designated by a lateral skewing of the reproduced image.
optical link
Any optical transmission channel used in telecommunications designed to connect two end terminals or to be connected in...
array processor
In image processing, a specially designed programmable computer peripheral that attaches to the host system for the purpose...
pulse slicer
An instrument designed for laser technology that is used to extract single pulses from the laser and transmit a portion of...
Johansson geometry
A design for bent crystal monochromators in which spacing is constant along any circular arc terminating at the two foci and...
optical figure
The amount by which an optical surface deviates from its ideal design value, expressed in wavelengths of light. Optical...
computer-calculated diffraction pattern
The use of computer analysis in the calculation of diffraction patterns for information on the design of optical systems. In...
photoelectric cathode
A cathode principally designed to emit a photoelectric current.
image iconoscope
A camera tube similar in design to the iconoscope. However, the image formed in the image iconoscope is projected on a...
concave
Concave is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves inward or has a hollow or recessed appearance. In...
aptamer
An aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
stereomicroscopy
The use of a specialized optical microscope designed to provide a more three-dimensional view of a sample. Stereomicroscopy...
optical noise
Optical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
Sonnar lens
A photographic objective that uses the thick meniscus principle to obtain its power. It is designed to photograph small...
fiber optic imaging bundle
A fiber optic imaging bundle is a specialized optical device composed of multiple optical fibers bundled together. Each...
phototheranostics
Phototheranostics, a portmanteau of "photo" (light), "therapy," and "diagnostics," refers to an emerging field that combines...
x-ray spectrometer
An instrument designed to produce an x-ray spectrum of a material as an aid in identifying it. This technique is...
piezoresistance
Piezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
beam attenuator
A device designed to decrease flux density or power per unit area of a light beam through absorption and scattering of the...
Mach-Zehnder interferometer
A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is an optical device used to measure the phase difference between two collimated beams of...
lamp housing
A device designed to concentrate and direct a light source by enclosing the source in it and using a concave reflector to...
chip-on-board lights
Chip-on-board (COB) lights refer to a type of LED lighting technology where multiple LED chips are directly mounted onto a...
multicolor hologram
A hologram formed by reconstruction of multicolor wavefronts. The system used to produce the hologram is designed to combine...
surface plate
A large table with an accurately designed plane surface used to test other surfaces, or to provide a true surface for...
static beam shaping
A technique for creating optimal performance in a system by producing a specific beam irradiance distribution, usually...
gastroscope
An optical instrument designed for the visual examination of the inside of the stomach.
four-wave mixing
A phenomenon that occurs in WDM and DWDM systems when three closely spaced signal wavelengths near the zero-dispersion...
heliograph
An instrument designed to record the duration and intensity of solar radiation.
fiber optic cable assembly
A fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
optofluidics
Optofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
apertometer
An instrument designed to measure the numerical aperture of an objective.
APD detector
An APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
film recorder
An instrument designed to place nongraphic information, usually generated by a computer, onto photographic film. The...
radio telescope
An instrument designed to collect naturally formed extraterrestrial electromagnetic radiation within the radio frequency...
machine vision system
A machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
molded lens
A molded lens is an optical lens manufactured using a molding process, typically involving the shaping of a material, such...
actinic glass
Glass designed to absorb most infrared and ultraviolet radiation while transmitting most of the visible region.
quantum confinement
Quantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
interferometer
An instrument that employs the interference of lightwaves to measure the accuracy of optical surfaces; it can measure a...
ultraviolet densitometry
A technique, involving spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet, that is designed to determine the colors of thin-layer...
antireflection coating
An antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
low-light-level instrumentation
Instrumentation designed to permit the perception, recording or measurement of scenes under conditions of low incident...
piezoelectric motion systems
Piezoelectric motion systems are mechanical systems that utilize piezoelectric materials to generate controlled motion or...
fiber optic gyroscope
A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
heat lamp
A lamp designed to emit a large amount of infrared radiation; used in applications requiring heat.
ultraviolet fiber optics
Ultraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
f-Theta lens
A family of lenses commonly used in scan systems for reading or printing documents. The lens must be designed such that the...
HE11 mode
Designation for the fundamental mode of an optical fiber.
sky filter
A filter designed to decrease the luminosity of the sky without decreasing that of the landscape in the foreground. A filter...
dry objective
A microscope objective designed to be used without liquid between the cover glass and the objective, or, in the case of...
wide-angle lens
A wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard or normal lens, allowing it to...
achromatism
Use of achromatic design; the correction of chromatic aberration; without color or hue (grey, black and white)
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
Scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
riez photodiode
A photodiode having a conducting grid that covers the surface of the photodiode junction and intercepts and wastes some of...
particle acceleration
Particle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
aerial film
Film designed especially for the needs and conditions encountered in aerial photography. It is produced in a variety of...
electromagnetic compatibility
The ability of a device to operate without electromagnetically interfering with the operation of nearby equipment and...
environmental chamber
A test chamber designed to expose the subject being tested to external conditions, such as heat, shock, pressure and...
micro-robotics
Micro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
feedback control system
A system designed to control the output quantity of a device by returning a portion of its output signal to its input. This...
fiber optic preform
A fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
Rockwell hardness
Rockwell hardness (Rc) refers to a method for measuring the hardness of a material, primarily metals, using an indentation...
proof-of-concept system
An assembly of prototype instruments, equipment and/or software designed to perform all the functions of a concept or idea...
camera shutter
An apparatus, designed for use with a camera, that is used to rapidly open the path from lens to film, to maintain the...
germicidal UV
Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
television microscope
A device designed to enlarge the image of a microscopic object by television process. It may be a flying spot scanner that...
convex
Convex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
light field
The term light field refers to the spatial distribution of light rays traveling in all directions through a given space. It...
filament transformer
A transformer that is designed to regulate the amount of current that passes through an electron tube's filament.
spatial phase shift
The change in position of the image of a sine wave object from its ideal position. Usually measured in degrees with...
Lenard tube
An electron-beam tube designed so that the beam can be carried through a portion of the wall of an evacuated enclosure.
waveform analyzer
A device designed to measure the amplitude and frequency of the elements in a complex waveform.
optical character recognition
Optical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that is used to convert printed or handwritten text into...
GaAlAs laser
A GaAlAs laser is a type of semiconductor laser diode that emits light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic...
chemical vapor deposition equipment
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
linear image sensor
A linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
isophotometer
A direct recording photometer that is designed to scan a photographic negative to determine its points of isodensity.
hill cloud lens
A fish-eye lens designed to photograph cloud formations over the entire visible sky.
focus lamp
An incandescent or carbon arc lamp designed with a stable and compact arc or filament that permits it to be used as a light...
cathode-ray tube lens
A high-quality, narrow-angle lens of high aperture designed for low magnification in the recording of cathode-ray tube...
vacuum gauge
A gauge designed to measure the degree of vacuum in an evacuated vessel. A simple U-tube containing mercury is adequate for...
silicon photodiode
A silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
Rayleigh prism
A prism system designed to produce a very high dispersion of light.
space pattern
On a test chart, the pattern designed to direct and measure geometric distortion.
long-pass filter
A long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
ultraviolet reflectance
Ultraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
blaze height
Blaze height typically refers to a parameter in the context of diffraction gratings, which are optical devices consisting of...
kampometer
A device designed to measure radiant energy, particularly in the thermal region.
flasher
A device that is designed to automatically turn electric lamps on and off in a rapidly repeating sequence. The device may...
laser drift
Laser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
optical combiner
An optical combiner, in the context of optics and display technologies, refers to a device or component that combines...
pointer eyepiece
A Huygenian eyepiece containing a pointer at its focal plane that is used -- when viewing an object through the eyepiece --...
optical materials
Optical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
fundamental mode
The lowest order mode of a waveguide. In fibers, the mode designated LP01 or HE11.
diode
A two-electrode device with an anode and a cathode that passes current in only one direction. It may be designed as an...
laser pattern generation
Production of a repeated image of a transmitted beam through a diffractive optical element such as a holographic card or...
narrow-angle dark-field illumination
An imaging system designed to highlight small deviations in a planar reflective object such as a mirror. The system can be...
retroreflection
Retroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
luxmeter
An illuminometer designed to measure illumination in terms of luxes.
laser powder bed fusion
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
betatron
An instrument designed to produce very hard x-rays by the acceleration of electrons in a varying magnetic field.
Jamin refractometer
An instrument designed to measure the index of refraction of a gas by the interference patterns formed by two beams, one of...
optical tooling target
Sets of paired lines carefully designed to give the most accurate pointing possible for various lengths of sight.
holographic camera
A holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
image intensifier
An image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
spatial light interference microscopy
Spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) is an optical microscopy technique that belongs to the category of quantitative...
ultraviolet spectrometer
A spectrophotometer designed for use in the 200- to 380-nm range of the electromagnetic spectrum and equipped with a...
motion controller
In optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
neon indicator tube
A cold-cathode tube containing neon and designed to visually determine a potential difference or field.
fiber-coupled photoconductive antenna
A fiber-coupled photoconductive antenna (FCPA) is a type of optoelectronic device that combines a photoconductive antenna...
detector array
A detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
high-speed motion camera
A high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
accelerometer
An accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
mirror mount
A mirror mount is a mechanical device used to secure and precisely position mirrors in optical systems. Mirrors are...
hydroscopic
Designed to observe objects below the surface of water. Not to be confused with hygroscopic.
flat machine
A polishing machine designed to permit adjustment of the polisher speed and motion for the control of flat surfaces.
optical testing instrument
An optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
excitron
A single-anode mercury pool tube that is designed to maintain a continuous cathode spot.
meta-optics
Meta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
metalens
A metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
photomask
A photomask, also known simply as a mask or reticle, is a key component in the photolithography process used in...
aplanatic points
Aplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
solar furnace
An optical system that is designed to produce a high temperature in a specified area by the optical direction and...
digital twin
A digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
optical glass
Optical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
ultrasonic detector
A mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical detector designed to identify and measure ultrasonic radiation.
digital filter
A linear computation or algorithm performed on a selected series in the form of an input signal that produces a new series...
selective laser melting
Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
Schumann plate
A specific type of photographic plate designed with only a small amount of gelatin to function in the extreme ultraviolet...
machine vision lens
A machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
monochromator
A monochromator is an optical instrument used to isolate and select a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of...
MTF optimization
Computerized lens design algorithm that permits the lens MTF characteristic to be included and controlled during the...
laser output
The laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
damped least squares
An organizational method used in optical design computer programs. The technique produces one number (merit function) to...
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) refers to a technology used in the fabrication of integrated circuits,...
network interface card
A network interface card (NIC), also known as a network adapter or LAN adapter, is a hardware component that allows...
aspheric lens
An aspheric lens is a type of lens whose surface profiles deviate from the traditional spherical shape. Unlike spherical...
hydrophilic
Hydrophilic is a term used to describe substances or materials that have an affinity for water. The word hydrophilic comes...
coherent fiber bundle
A coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
spectrobolometer
A combination spectrometer and bolometer that is designed to measure a narrow band of radiation from a star.
detector-Dewar assembly
A detector-Dewar assembly typically refers to a combination of a detector and a Dewar flask used in scientific instruments,...
infrared binoculars
An instrument, similar in design to regular binoculars, that can transmit and enlarge infrared images.
photoconductive antenna
Photoconductive antenna (PCA) is a semiconductor element that generates or detects high-frequency electromagnetic signals....
hydrophobic
Hydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
time-to-amplitude converter
A time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) is an electronic circuit that converts a time interval between two events into an...
potentiometer
A device designed to measure electromotive force or electrical difference potential.
dichroic coating
A dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
photodynamic inactivation
Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the combination of light, a photosensitizer, and...
anisotropic
Anisotropic is a term used to describe a material or substance that exhibits different properties or behaviors in different...
grating beamsplitter
A grating beamsplitter is an optical device that utilizes the principles of diffraction to split a beam of light into...
bandgap
In semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirror
Off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
fluoroscopic image intensifier
A form of image intensifier designed to amplify a weak fluoroscopic image. The image is received at an input phosphor...
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipment
MTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
spatial filter
1. Generally, an emulsion mask having a clean annular region in an otherwise opaque region. It is designed to eliminate...
broadband dielectric mirrors
Broadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
laser-induced cut and patch
A process used in the design, repair and customization of integrated circuits. A low-power laser etches a silicon wafer...
aplanatic surface
An aplanatic surface is an optical surface that is specifically designed or shaped to minimize spherical aberration and...
lumen
A lumen is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of luminous flux, which is the perceived power of light. In...
field of view
The field of view (FOV) refers to the extent of the observable world or the visible area that can be seen at any given...
microstereoscope
A binocular microscope designed for the viewing of stereo pairs. As these stereoscopic image pairs are seen through a...
transverse mode
In the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
holographic grating
A holographic grating is a type of diffraction grating that is produced using holographic recording techniques. It consists...
modified chemical vapor deposition
Modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
diascope
1. An optical device used for projection of enlarged images of transparencies or lantern slides on a screen. 2. A device...
Czerny-Turner design
A form of monochromator optical system consisting of two spherical concave mirrors used in conjunction with a movable...
film platen
A mechanism in a camera designed to position the film in the focal plane for exposure.
infrared lens
An infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
beam expander
A system of optical components designed to increase the diameter of a radiation beam. Usually an afocal system.
point light source
1. With respect to angular subtense, a source of light, such as a star, that is very small. In a lab, a point source may be...
modulated grating hologram
A computer-generated, phase-and-amplitude, off-axis hologram made by a multi-exposure technique that uses three computer...
long-wave infrared
Long-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
stereo projector
A projector designed to give each of the observer's eyes its own disparate image.
dispersion
Dispersion refers to the phenomenon where different wavelengths (colors) of light travel at different speeds when passing...
bayonet coupling
A coupling mechanism designed to quickly lock a connector into an adaptor or a lens into a lens mount. Typically coupling is...
dichroic mirror
A dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
harmonic wave analyzer
An instrument designed to calculate the amplitude and phase of the different harmonic elements of a radiation wave utilizing...
photonic integrated circuit
A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a compact and integrated device that incorporates multiple photonic components and...
Geiger counter
Also called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
colorimeter
A colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
GaN distributed feedback lasers
GaN (Gallium Nitride) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers refer to a specific type of semiconductor laser based on Gallium...
gradient-index profile
The term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
edge-emitting LED
An edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
Risley prism
A Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the...
acousto-optic modulators and deflectors
An acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is a device that utilizes the interaction between sound waves and light waves to modulate...
two-photon polymerization
Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a technique used in additive manufacturing, specifically in the field of 3D printing. It...
optical fiber
Optical fiber is a thin, flexible, transparent strand or filament made of glass or plastic used for transmitting light...
reflective
The term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
advanced driver assistance systems
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
grown-junction photocell
A photodiode that has been designed so that the bar of semiconductor material has a PN junction perpendicular to its length...
bubble chamber optics
Specially designed optics for the observation and photographing of hydrogen in a bubble chamber.
distributed feedback laser
A distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) is a type of semiconductor laser diode designed to emit coherent, narrow-bandwidth...
chromascope
An instrument designed to analyze the optical effects of color.
pseudo-second-derivative
A method used to approximate the values of the homogeneous second derivatives at each iteration in the course of lens design...
spherical aberration
Spherical aberration is an optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved optical surface...
orange peel
In the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
fingerprint camera
A fixed-focus camera designed to record the ink impression of fingerprints that have been impressed on a card or form for...
confocal scanning microscope
A microscope design that involves apertures inserted in conjugate plane positions inside the microscope, with one aperture...
angular spectrum approach
The angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
double-clad fiber
Double-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
microwave phototube
A device designed to detect microwave modulation and to mix modulated and unmodulated laser beams. It consists of a...
Fabry-Perot etalon
A nonabsorbing, multireflecting device, similar in design to the Fabry-Perot interferometer, that serves as a multilayer,...
macro lens
A camera lens, used in macrophotography, that is designed and corrected to produce optimum definition of a nearby object...
concentricity error
The distance between the center of the two concentric circles of an optical fiber that designate the diameter of the...
tachometer
An instrument designed to measure the rate of rotation of components, such as shafts.
global optimization
A controlled random search process, such as generalized simulated annealing, that has been incorporated into many optical...
digital camera
A digital camera is a device that captures and records still images or video in digital format. Unlike traditional film...
linear receive optics
Linear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
line-scan camera
A line-scan camera, also known as a line-scan image sensor or linear array camera, is a type of digital camera designed to...
oleophobic
Oleophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or resist oils. The word oleophobic comes from the...
infrared light source
An infrared light source is a device that emits light in the infrared spectrum, which lies beyond the visible spectrum of...
fill factor
In solar energy technology, the percent of usable land covered by collectors. The horizontal collector is the only design...
bronchoscope
An optical instrument designed to permit the visual examination of the interior of the bronchi.
mode hopping
Mode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
iris diaphragm
A mechanical device designed to smoothly vary the effective diameter of a lens, thereby controlling the amount of light...
coudé
A set of mirrors along a telescope's polar axis designed to redirect light to a fixed position without being affected by the...
optical assembly
An optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
D*
A value used to designate the relative sensitivity of a detector. The higher the D* value, the better the detector.
aiming circle
An instrument designed to measure angles in azimuth; used in general topographic work and military gunnery.
infrared light-emitting diode
An infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
optical design and engineering services
Optical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
metamaterial
Metamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
Dammann grating
A Dammann grating is a type of diffractive optical element (DOE) used to create an array of equally spaced,...
endoscope
An endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
regenerative repeater
A repeater that is designed for digital transmission. Also called a regenerator.
recombinase polymerase amplification
Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a molecular biology technique used to rapidly amplify specific DNA or RNA...
crystal spectrometer
A device designed to measure crystal properties by analysis of crystal diffraction.
plane densitometer
An instrument designed to give precise and rapid detection of changes in tumor growth as well as the location of small...
neutral density coating
A coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
centered curve
The surface curvature designed to reduce the marginal error found in the periphery of a spectacle lens.
radial distortion
An alteration in magnification from the center of the field to any point in the field, measured in a radial direction from...
diffraction efficiency
Diffraction efficiency is a measure of how effectively a diffractive optical element (DOE) or diffraction grating directs...
Casimir force
The Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
microscope stage
The component of a microscope on which the sample or slide to be examined is placed. Depending on the design of the...
spectral flow cytometry
Spectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
Pirani gauge
A vacuum gauge designed to measure very high degrees of vacuum by thermal conduction.
topological photonics
Topological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
incident light meter
An exposure meter designed to measure the light striking an object and used at a suitable location in a scene.
immersion refractometer
A type of refractometer designed to measure the refractive indices of liquids. A section of the instrument is immersed into...
neuromorphic vision sensor
A neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
scintillation counter
An instrument designed to measure radiation indirectly through the use of several phosphors and a photomultiplier tube. The...
image jump
In optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
computer numerically controlled grinding
Computer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
photometry
Photometry is the branch of science that deals with the measurement of light, particularly in terms of its intensity and the...
metallographic microscope
A specially designed microscope for observing the etched surface of a polished metal specimen. The specimen is often laid...
air-to-ground phototransmission system
A category of systems designed to communicate a photo taken from the air (e.g., aircraft, balloon, satellite) to a ground...
electron-beam lithography system
An electron-beam lithography (EBL) system is a sophisticated nanofabrication tool used in the semiconductor industry and...
spatially offset Raman spectroscopy
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a technique that extends traditional Raman spectroscopy by incorporating...
film thickness gauge
An interferometer spectrometer designed to measure thicknesses of thin films or layers by recording the interferogram and by...
interference inverter
A device, consisting of a diode activated by an interference pulse, that is designed to minimize the white spots on a...
laser texturing
Laser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
achromat
An achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
mixed signal oscilloscope
A mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) is a type of electronic test instrument that combines the capabilities of both a...
anisotropy
Anisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
linear positioning stage
A linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
cassette
A container designed to hold recording material (film, video- and audiotape) so that when it is loaded into a recording...
flexible display
A flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
high-speed movie camera
A camera designed to record at rates exceeding 50 fps. For frame rates up to about 500 fps, an ordinary pull-down mechanism...
laser resistor trimming
In hybrid or monolithic integrated circuits, the laser ablation of a portion of resistor material to achieve the design...
Senarmont prism
A polarizing beamsplitting prism similar in design to the Rochon prism. However, the Senarmont transmits the extraordinary...
high-pressure cloud chamber
A cloud chamber designed to maintain the gas within it at a high pressure as a means of reducing the range of the...
scattered light filter
A specific type of filter designed to reduce the amount of light scattered by reflections from the edges of optical...
galvanometric scanner
A galvanometric scanner, also known as a galvanometer scanner or galvo scanner, is a type of optical scanning device used to...
fluorographic lens
A lens having an extremely high aperture and used in the recording of x-ray fluorescent screen images. It often is specially...
laser active elements
Laser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
nonlinear optical detector
A type of radiation detector designed to recognize nonlinear optical effects, such as the Raman effect, by means of a...
optometer
An instrument designed to measure the refractive power and range of accommodation of the eye. See ophthalmic instruments.
optical coatings
Optical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
Camera Link HS
Camera Link HS (high speed) is a standard developed for high-speed digital data transmission in machine vision and...
GaN-based LEDs
Gallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
phototherapy
Phototherapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of light to treat various conditions, particularly those related...
orthographic camera
A camera designed with a telecentric optical system and a narrow field of view; the telecentric optical system (placement of...
etalon
An etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
event-based sensor
An event-based image sensor, also known as a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), is a type of digital imaging device designed to...
photomicrographic camera
A still or motion-picture camera designed to photograph through a microscope. Photomicrographic equipment usually contains a...
machine vision lighting
Machine vision lighting refers to the use of specific lighting techniques and equipment in the field of machine vision,...
light modulator
A device that is designed to modulate a beam of light, usually from a laser source, by acting upon the beam directly. The...
substrate
A substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
frequency domain
The frequency domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to represent signals and data in terms of their...
microfluidics
Microfluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
detector
1. A device designed to convert the energy of incident radiation into another form for the determination of the presence of...
inverted microscope
A microscope designed so that the specimen is located face down above the objective.
orthonormalization
Optimization method used in optical design computer programs that employs a variable-by-variable approach to construct new...
optical gate
An optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
GigE
GigE, short for gigabit Ethernet, refers to a standard for high-speed Ethernet communication, capable of transmitting data...
logic-to-light device
A fiber optic component or system designed in such a way that it can be operated by people without specialized knowledge of...
metasurfaces
Metasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
etaloning
Etaloning is an optical phenomenon that occurs in imaging systems, particularly in devices such as spectrometers,...
astronomical camera
A camera designed to record astronomical objects (e.g., stars, planets, nebulae, galaxies) and their spectra.
lateral shearing interferometer
A lateral shearing interferometer is an optical device used in interferometry to measure phase differences between two beams...
McLeod gauge
A gauge designed to measure high degrees of vacuum. It consists of a glass bulb attached to the vacuum vessel, the...
slide projection lens
A lens designed for projection of color transparencies.
transmission sphere
A precision lens designed to convert the plane wavefront output of an interferometer to a spherical wavefront for the...
optical grating
An optical grating, in the context of optics and physics, refers to a device with a periodic structure of closely spaced,...
Amici prism
Also known as roof prism. A type of prism designed by G.B. Amici. It consists of a roof edge produced upon the long...
beam shaper
A beam shaper is an optical device or system designed to modify the spatial profile or intensity distribution of a laser or...
diffuse-cutting filter
A color filter that is designed to gradually increase or decrease its absorption with wavelength.
phase matching
Phase matching is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in nonlinear optics and the generation of coherent...
chromaticity coordinates
Proportions of standard primaries (tristimulus values) required for a color match; ratios of each tristimulus value of a...
Cassegrain lens system
A two-mirror lens design used in astronomical telescopes, the primary being a parabola, the secondary a smaller hyperbola....
confocal resonator
A confocal resonator, also known as a confocal cavity or confocal laser resonator, is a type of optical resonator...
fiber optic spectrometer
A fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
high-content screening
Also known as HCS, an analytical method designed to collect statistically relevant amounts of quantitative data on many...
laser designator
A laser device used to establish a location or target usually for detection by an impact source e.g. missiles and guided...
view camera
A camera that permits adjustments in the perspective of an image; this is accomplished by the camera design, which permits...
neuromorphic
Neuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
GRIN lens
A GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
pulse counter detector
A device designed to detect frequency-modulated signals by forming a unidirectional pulse from each sine wave. The direct...
optical cements and adhesive
Optical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
aspheric mirror
An aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
dispersion-shifted fiber
A dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
multianode microchannel array detector
A photon-counting instrument for use in both space-borne and ground-based photometric and spectroscopic instrumentation....
laser diode module
A laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
diffuser
An optical diffuser is an optical component or material designed to scatter or diffuse light that passes through it. It is...
nanoimprint lithography
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
computer-generated hologram
A computer-generated hologram (CGH) is a holographic image produced using computational methods and algorithms, rather than...
vertical external cavity surface-emitting laser
A laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser...
interchangeable lens
A lens that has a mount, usually bayonet or screw type in design, that can be used on a camera in place of lenses with the...
virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
micro-optics
Micro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
instantaneous field of view
Instantaneous field of view (iFOV) is a term commonly used in the context of remote sensing, imaging systems, and optical...
embedded laser
The term "embedded laser" typically refers to a laser device that is integrated or embedded into a larger system or...
back-wall photovoltaic cell
A photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
microdisplay
A microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
waveguide
A waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
fluorophore
A fluorophore is a molecule or a portion of a molecule that has the ability to emit light upon excitation by an external...
eye-safe laser operation
Wavelengths between 400 and 1400 nm (VIS to NIR) are focused onto the retina by the cornea. Because the retina is sensitive...
Fresnel reflection
Fresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
notch filter
Also referred to as a band-stop or band rejection filter; a notch filter is a filter that is designed to screen out a very...
MEMS fiber optic switch
A MEMS fiber optic switch is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device designed to selectively route optical signals...
plasmonics
Plasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
cyanometer
An instrument designed to measure the proportion of light emitted by a source in the blue region of the spectrum.
nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at...
underwater television system
A television system designed to obtain pictures of objects or scenes beneath the surface of the water. Generally, a...
multiconfiguration mode
Used in computer design for optical systems with common parts and different applications.
second-order nonlinear optical properties
Second-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
slide projector
An optical projection device designed to project positive color transparencies onto a screen for viewing.
fiber-coupled LED
A fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
annealing furnace
An oven or furnace that possesses the design requirements and heat control necessary to anneal glass for the optical...
aerial camera
Camera designed for the imaging of the earth's surface in order to obtain high quality aerial images
barcode scanner
An optical scanning device designed to read information printed in the form of bars of different size by detection and...
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are...
excimer laser coronary angioplasty
Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) refers to a medical procedure used in the treatment of coronary artery disease....
perfect lens
A theoretical, ideal lens capable of producing perfect images. Used as a lens design and analysis tool to image collimated...
femtosecond laser
A femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
calorimetry
Calorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
astronomical telescope
An astronomical telescope is a type of optical instrument designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial...
Ultraviolet-C
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...

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