The resale value of a used smartphone is highly dependent on the quality of the screen. In this project, we demonstrate methods to automatically identify screen scratches and determine screen quality using a custom imaging and illumination layout and computer...
As optical engineers, we are in charge of more than just the design and implementation of optical systems for specific applications: we often need to evaluate optical systems’ performance or to assess the quality of optical components. To do these assessments, we...
Simple method to generate a light-pipe from a keyboard overmold
We’ve built a number of image processing systems that use Raspberry Pi and other single board computers together with OpenCV and other Python libraries such as Scikit image and Dlib. For example, take a look at this defect inspection system This works well for...
Understanding the purpose of an MTF chart and how to read and MTF chart is an essential skill for anyone involved in the development of products that use optics.For most applications an MTF test is the single best method to determine lens quality. In this post we will...
A Strehl ratio is used to define the quality of an optical system by showing how a real optical system compares to an ideal aberration-free system. The Strehl ratio incorporates the Point Spread Function (PSF) and its relation to wavefront aberration of the optical...
Types of Laser Beam Homogenizers There are two widely used methods of laser beam homogenization for systems where uniform beam profiles are needed: homogenization using a lens array optic and homogenization using a light pipe rod. Each method has its own advantages...
A rayset (sometimes called a rayfile) is a key element in the design of any illumination system. It describes the path of hundreds of thousands, millions, and even billions of rays of light as they leave a source (typically an LED). This data set is used in a ray...
An optical system is only as strong as its weakest link. When designing an imaging system, sensor resolution is just one important factor and it is important to ensure sensors and detectors are well matched. Take these scenarios: Taking a selfie with your cockadoodle...
We will delve in more detail here on the types of questions we ask our customers when starting a spectrometer design program and the various stages of development. Some recent spectrophotometer development tasks included: Miniaturize a current lab prototype Automate...
Last week, we announced the launch of a free lens search tool for optical engineers. It is available at www.opticsforhire.com/lens-search The searchable database allows engineers working in robotics, machine vision, industrial, and security industries...
Spectrophotometers are an essential analytical tool used in many disciplines including biology research, chemical and clinical labs, medical imaging and biomarker testing. They are used to detect, identify, and quantify matters in solution, including DNA,...
Opto mechanical design overview and definitions Opto mechanical design is an engineering specialty related to the positioning of optical elements such as lenses, filters, beamsplitters, reflectors, and diffractive elements in mechanical structures that will...
Working principle of TIR lenses: A TIR lens works on the principle of total internal reflection. When light reaches an interface between two materials with different refractive indices and the correct angle of incidence, there is refraction (bending of a light ray...
In many applications of lens design, avoiding chromatic aberrations is a key performance requirement. In this video, we review some of the causes of chromatic aberrations and methods to correct them. •All optical media have dispersion, meaning the index of...
Depth of field is a distance range where the image optical resolution is as high as possible for that lens, i.e. an image appears to be in focus. When starting a lens design program, having a good understanding of this parameter’s physics will help you and your...
Overview OFH works on many different types of projects, each with its unique goals and deliverables. For illustration, here is a breakdown of a lens design project from 2012. Our client produced a very low cost diagnostic microscope to view saliva with 30x...
Selecting the right lens manufacturing vendor is a multi step process. To start, you will need detailed production drawings to ensure the vendor understands what you require and the tolerances involved.. As you get quotes, you may find qualified suppliers with good...
Planning to hire a lens design partner to assist with your optical engineering program? Here are a few things to consider. Do you need a lens for illumination or for imaging? The design methods and software tools used for illumination and imaging are different. Many...
We’ve been experimenting recently with our OpenMV camera and tools. In this video, you can see a simple system to track objects. Building this cost just $80 for the camera and a few hours’ time of coding and testing. In addition to a cellphone backlight , we were able...
