SPIE - Education Introduction to Lens Design SC935

Have you ever needed to specify, design, or analyze a lens system and wondered how to do it or where to start? Would you like a better understanding of the terminology used by lens designers? Are you interested in learning techniques to better utilize your optical design software? Have you always wanted to know what the difference is between spherical aberration and coma or where those crazy optical tolerances come from? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, this course is for you! This full day course begins with a review of basic optics, including paraxial optics, system layout, and lens performance criteria. A discussion of how different system specifications influence the choice of design form, achievable performance, and cost will be presented. Third-order aberration theory, stop shift theory, and induced aberrations are examined in detail. Factors that affect aberrations and the principles of aberration correction are discussed. Demonstrations of computer aided lens design are given accompanied by a discussion of optimization theory, variables and constraints, and local vs. global optimization. Techniques for improving an optical design are illustrated with easy-to-understand examples. The optical fabrication and tolerancing process is explored including an example comparison between a simple copier lens and a complex lithography lens (used to print computer circuit boards) to help explain why some optical designs require precision mechanics and precision assembly and some do not. Have you ever needed to specify, design, or analyze a lens system and wondered how to do it or where to start? Would you like a better understanding of the terminology used by lens designers? Are you interested in learning techniques to better utilize your optical design software? Have you always wanted to know what the difference is between spherical aberration and coma or where those crazy optical tolerances come from? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, this course is for you! This full day course begins with a review of basic optics, including paraxial optics, system layout, and lens performance criteria. A discussion of how different system specifications influence the choice of design form, achievable performance, and cost will be presented. Third-order aberration theory, stop shift theory, and induced aberrations are examined in detail. Factors that affect aberrations and the principles of aberration correction are discussed. Demonstrations of computer aided lens design are given accompanied by a discussion of optimization theory, variables and constraints, and local vs. global optimization. Techniques for improving an optical design are illustrated with easy-to-understand examples. The optical fabrication and tolerancing process is explored including an example comparison between a simple copier lens and a complex lithography lens (used to print computer circuit boards) to help explain why some optical designs require precision mechanics and precision assembly and some do not.