Solid modeling of optical components and ray tracing

Rami Finkler

doi:10.1117/12.163637

25 November 1993 Solid modeling of optical components and ray tracing

Rami Finkler

Proceedings Volume 2000, Current Developments in Optical Design and Optical Engineering III; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.163637
Event: SPIE's 1993 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1993, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Optical systems are traditionally represented by a sequential series of `optical surfaces' that are ordered in the same manner experienced by light traveling from an object to an image point through the system. The actual system is composed of 3-D components which include these `active optical surfaces' as the external surface of the component. Modern simulation technology is based on solid modeling which provides a very close representation to the actual system and enables computer integrated manufacturing by being accurate and comprehensive enough for fabrication. The classical method to analyze an optical system is based on ray tracing, a technique based on geometrical optics where light propagation is assumed to be simulated by rays from the object to the image point. Each ray is represented by a linear vector traveling through the system to the evaluation plane by iterations. Each step calculates the propagation between two successive surfaces in a sequential order. The shift from `sequential surfaces' representation to `solid models,' which changes the classical method of ray tracing, but offers a variety of new analytical opportunities, is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Rami Finkler "Solid modeling of optical components and ray tracing", Proc. SPIE 2000, Current Developments in Optical Design and Optical Engineering III, (25 November 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.163637

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