Blog

Blog

Opto Electronics, 3D, imaging

4 Apr 2026

Case Study: Structured-Light Stereovision System for Parcel and Package 3D Dimensioning

Optics for Hire designed and prototyped a structured-light stereovision system for real-time 3D package dimensioning on warehouse conveyor lines. The project included ZEMAX optical modeling, custom subpixel stereo matching algorithm development in MATLAB, and bench-top prototype validation, achieving 0.9 mm depth accuracy across a 700–1500 mm working range within a 14–16 week engagement.

John Ellis

Opto Electronics

2 Apr 2026

Case Study: Optical Data Storage System Design & Engineering

Full-system optical drive design spanning 11 platform programs across 4+ decades. Pickup head optics, servo systems, laser drivers, signal processing, and custom test equipment for LaserDisc, CD, DVD, FMD multilayer, WORM, holographic, and LaserCard formats.

John Ellis

Uncategorized, Opto Electronics, ZEMAX Modeling

21 Mar 2026

Case Study: Downhole Optical Fluid Discrimination Sensor: Optical Modeling for High Temperature High Pressure Oilfield Sensor

Downhole Optical Fluid Discrimination Sensor Optics for Hire developed a ZEMAX optical model for a downhole fluid discrimination sensor operating at extreme temperatures and pressures in oilfield environments. The project involved non-sequential ray tracing to optimize LED illumination, fluorescence collection, and detector signal-to-noise across multiple optical channels for real-time wellbore fluid analysis.

John Ellis

illumination, Illumination & LED Optics Design, LED, ZEMAX Modeling

21 Mar 2026

Case Study: Uniform High-PPFD Grow-Light Optics for Indoor Vertical Farming

Uniform High-PPFD Grow Light Optics for Indoor Vertical Farming Optics for Hire designed a custom asymmetric LED lens to deliver uniform photosynthetic light distribution across a vertical farming grow shelf. The project used ZEMAX non-sequential modeling to eliminate hotspots and edge falloff, achieving target PPFD uniformity across the full growing area.

John Ellis

Custom Lens Design, Lens Testing, ZEMAX Modeling

21 Mar 2026

Case Study: Custom High-NA Fluorescence Collection Lens for Flow Cytometry: Design, Prototyping, Validation & Production

Custom High-NA Fluorescence Collection Lens for Flow Cytometry Optics for Hire designed, prototyped, and validated a custom high-numerical-aperture objective lens for fluorescence collection in a commercial flow cytometer. The 5-element lens achieved 0.5 NA with diffraction-limited performance, replacing a catalog optic that could not meet the system's collection efficiency and working distance requirements.

John Ellis

imaging

21 Mar 2026

Case Study: Custom VIS-NIR Dual-Band Imaging Lens for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery

Custom VIS-NIR Dual-Band Imaging Lens for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Optics for Hire designed a custom 35 mm f/1.65 imaging lens that simultaneously focuses visible and near-infrared light for a fluorescence-guided surgical camera. The 7-element design reduced chromatic focal shift by 54% compared to the catalog lens it replaced, enabling real-time tumor visualization without refocusing.