Optical Design Software Advances Fabrication Techniques

By DE Editors

CODE V 9.81 optical design software from Optical Research Associates (ORA; Pasadena, CA) streamlines the fabrication of optical systems by simplifying the correlation of actual test data and design parameters.

New aspheric lens tolerancing capabilities can be used with the CODE V Fast Wavefront Differential Tolerancing (TOR) feature to tolerance surface errors that are measured in production using surface profilometry. These tolerancing capabilities will be valuable in the fabrication of optical elements that are machined directly in metal or plastic, or, in high-volume production, created from mold inserts that are machined.

In addition, CODE V’s ability to use measured interferograms of actual lenses has been improved. Specifically, the Fabrication Data analysis feature now provides a way to visualize interferogram data on a lens surface, entrance pupil, or exit pupil, including the ability to see rotation and scaling effects. This simplifies the correlation of measured lens surface deformations or wavefront perturbations with design data.

CODE V 9.81 also delivers enhancements that address the demand for ever smaller features in the microlithographic production of semiconductor wafers.

For more information, visit Optical Research Associates.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.