Infrared Optics
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Syntec Optics is a leading provider of design, development, manufacturing, and assembly services for custom infrared optics (IR optics). Our offerings include IR lenses, prisms, windows, mirrors, domes, aspherical lenses, and diffractive lenses.
Infrared optical material selection depends on customer requirements. Some of the materials we work with include – Zinc Sulfide (ZnS), Germanium (Ge), Chalcogenide, Silicon, Zinc Selenide, Sapphire, Calcium Fluoride, and Magnesium Fluoride.
Syntec Optics offers unique advantages in terms of vertical integration (VI) and design for manufacturability (DFM).
Our infrared optics manufacturing capabilities cover the entire infrared spectrum: near-infrared (NIR 0.7µm to 0.9µm), short-wave infrared (SWIR 0.9µm to 2.3µm), mid-wave infrared (MWIR 3µm to 5µm), and long-wave infrared (LWIR 8µm to 14µm).
We collaborate with customers to ensure the optical design meets their performance requirements, such as MTF and FOV. Opto-mechanical designers consider specifications such as mount, focus type, and sealing while conceptualizing IR optomechanical systems. We can incorporate diffractive features in plastic, glass, or chalcogenides via diamond turning or molding. Diffractive surfaces provide chromatic correction in infrared imaging.
Customers also engage Syntec Optics to develop IR electro-optics solutions owing to our proven optical assembly capabilities in a cleanroom environment. Our expert assembly team also performs in-line and end-of-line testing to ensure optimum performance of infrared optical systems.
Precision molding of infrared optics using Chalcogenide glass is a less expensive production option for large quantities. We can mold finished, spherical, aspherical, and diffractive lens geometries.
Syntec Optics has a state-of-the-art metrology department to ensure the quality, precision, and accuracy of infrared optical components and assemblies.
Applications of Infrared Optics:
| Wavelength Band | Applications of Infrared Optics |
| Near-Infrared (NIR) | Infrared Optical Sensors, LiDAR, Night Vision, Pulse Oximeters, Biomedical Instrumentation, Agriculture, Food Testing |
| Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) | Medical Research, Spectroscopy, Brain Imaging, Food, and Drug Testing |
| Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) | Indoor Thermal Inspection, Coastal Surveillance |
| Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) | Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations |
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Customers engage Syntec Optics to conduct optical design development of IR electro-optics (LWIR lenses). An example is a request for the following specification: 25 mm EFL, f/1, and a FOV. The camera chip size is 640×512 with 17 μm pixels so the diagonal is 13.93 mm, which yields a nominal FOV of ±15.57°. The other requests for the design investigation include correction for wavelengths between 8-12 μm and the material selection is intended to be ZnS, Ge, or Chalcogenide. Syntec can work with a variety of requests based on custom optics applications. The Refractive index of Ge is 4, ZnS is 2.2, and Chalcogenide is 2-3.
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Customers engage Syntec Optics to conduct diffractive lens design. Once the suitable material is determined, the first step of the design investigation is to design a single-precision diffractive element. The diffractive lens design is optimized at a single wavelength and aspheric terms are added to both surfaces. The correction with up to 6th order aspheres is quite good as long as the field of view is small and there is a single wavelength.
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Syntec develops many IR opto-mechanical designs during its investigation process after the camera applications are reviewed. Material selection is key, germanium (Ge), which has almost twice the index of refraction compared to ZnS (i.e. 4 to 2.2). The two-element Ge design provides a significant improvement in imaging when compared to the ZnS solution, see MTF plots.
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Many commercial LWIR lenses (e.g. IR diamond-turned lens) are currently two-element solutions. Diamond turning is a main component of the manufacturing requirements, although AR coatings are also a critical part of the process. Coating IR materials can be quite challenging and expensive because of the relatively thick layers that are required.
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Precision molding of lenses using Chalcogenide glass affords considerably less expensive production cost in large quantities compared to SPDT (single point diamond turning) and a definitive and competitive price-performance ratio. Chalcogenide glass has attractive optical properties over a broad IR spectrum range and is suitable for the molding manufacturing process.
Infrared optics collect, focus or collimate light in the infrared spectrum (0.7µm – 14µm).
All objects emit heat/infrared radiation invisible to human eyes. Infrared optics convert this radiation into images visible to human eyes.
Infrared lenses are used for thermal imaging applications.
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Chalcogenide, Zinc Selenide, Zinc Sulfide, Calcium Fluoride, Magnesium Fluoride, Potassium Bromide, Silicon, Fused Silica, Sapphire, Germanium
Infrared Optical Sensors, LiDAR, Night Vision, Pulse Oximeters, Biomedical Instrumentation, Agriculture, Food Testing
Medical Research, Spectroscopy, Brain Imaging, Food, and Drug Testing
Indoor Thermal Inspection, Coastal Surveillance
Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations