Systems diagnose optical problems on a budget

Optical test systems address consumers' demands for improved image quality in digital devices, such as cellphones, digital cameras, medical instruments and even automobiles.

Wells Research and Development has announced two new optical test systems, the OS210A and OS210LT.

Designed for numerical measurements of image quality and base lens parameters such as focal length, the OS210 systems address consumers' demands for improved image quality in digital devices, such as cellphones, digital cameras, medical instruments, and even automobiles.

The entry-level OS210-LT permits subjective evaluation of image quality via star test and USAF charts, as well as numerical quick measurement of fundamental lens properties such as, BFL, FFL, useable field of view and centration.

The system also permits measurement of axial colour and astigmatism.

The more advanced OS210A adds a video camera and PixelScope-OpticStudio, Wells Research's powerful image analysis software.

PixelScope permits numerical measurement of image quality and lens parameters.

The software calculates MTF from edge, line, or pinhole targets, as well as contrast measurement from three-bar targets.

PixelScope also supports numerical measurement of lens aberrations such as astigmatism, distortion, lateral colour and visualisation of wavefront aberrations such as spherical and coma.

Linespread and pointspread plots may be viewed in real time, or exported to a file for further analysis.

"The OS210 is the most cost effective instrument available for characterising a broad category of lenses that operate in the visible or NIR region", said Ben Wells, President of Wells Research and Development.

"We've seen plenty of in-house systems, and built more than a few ourselves", says Wells.

"But the cost of an in-house system depends on the increasingly unavailable factor of time".

"The OS210, on the other hand, provides the critical testing capabilities needed without consuming inordinate engineering time".

"Subsequently, the company sees a lower total cost".

The OpticStudio210 is the newest addition to the OpticStudio family of modular optical measurement.

The OpticStudio family targets a wide range of lenses, including lenses that operate at infinity (camera lenses), at finite conjugates (relay lenses), and afocally (beam expanders).

The OS210, on the other hand, is targeted specifically at lenses that operate at infinity, whose working aperture is between 2 and 50mm, and whose focal length is between 2 and 500mm.

This range includes a wide range of camera lenses, including microscope objectives and laser collimating lenses.

The preconfigured OpticStudio components that make up the OS210 system include many components found on a classic optical bench integrated into a compact benchtop design.

A back-lit reticle target is placed at the focal plane of the lens under test.

The lens under test forms an image of the reticle at the focal plane of a telescope with extremely low wavefront aberration.

In the OS210LT, this image is viewed directly with an eyepiece.

In the OS210A, the image is captured by a FireWire video camera with Sony CCD.

A range of accessories is available for the OS120 including clamps, rails, and lens holders.

The unique dovetail mounting system makes it easy to incorporate the system into custom configurations on an optical table or production line equipment.

"We created these systems for engineers who need to diagnose optical problems on a very limited budget", says Wells.

"In some cases, the entry level OS200LT system will be all that is needed to identify the root cause of an optical problem".

"If additional analytical measures such as MTF are found to be necessary, these can be added at a later time".

The entry-level version OS210LT includes a high intensity fibre optic light source, with three quick-change narrowband filters, back-lit reticle holder with USAF reticle, 200mm telescope with eyepiece, optical table, with +/- 90 degree telescope motion, and a universal three-jaw lens holder.

The reticle holder is carried on a precision roller bearing stage with dial indicator readout.

The telescope has a nominal aperture of 25mm, but a 50mm telescope is available as an option.

The more powerful OS210A adds a 640 x 480 FireWire video camera with 7.4um pixel size, and PixelScope-OpticStudio software.

Two additional reticles allow fast measurement of MTF and lens flare.

PixelScope requires a Windows 2000 or Windows XP system with a 1394 port or an available PCI slot for the included FireWire card.

The OS210LT, lens analysis system with eyepiece, is priced at $5450.

The OS210A, lens analysis system with Firewire camera and PixelScope software, is priced at $11,950.

Both systems are available for delivery two weeks ARO.

Back to top