Optical Components

bytimothyharvard

Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that intersects with physics. The field takes into account the theory, design, manufacture, and operation of hardware that converts electrical signals into visible or infrared energy. The opposite conversion is also true. Examples of optical components include: achromatic doublets, beamsplitters, lenses, filters and apertures, and mirrors.

The first of the main optical components, achromats, have a very precise range of tolerances, resistances, and specifications. They are typically considered to be for general purposes and, when cemented, do not need a lens cell. Furthermore, they add convenience by being able to be tried as an individual component.

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Beamsplitters are the next up, and they are one of the most versatile and useful optical components on the market. With them, it is possible to divide light into two completely independent beams. This splitting (hence the name) can be by either intensity or wavelength. In either case, the two beams are able to retain all of the attributes that the original beam held.

The third main optical component is the lens. They are available in both positive and negative, in glass and in silica. These lenses are aptly suited for methods requiring magnification in one dimension only. Examples of this are linear detectors and laser outputs. Lenses of cylindrical shape are more difficult to manufacture than spherical lenses, as the lens power is confined to a single axis.

Next, filters and apertures offer the advantage of spectral or intensity modification, which enables them to better fit the particular circumstances. Often, it is necessary to modify the characteristics of a beam of light, and even more useful to have a selection of calibrated filters available for this purpose. Apertures add further efficiency, as they have a slits and pinholes. These are incredibly important in providing a defined physical aperture that permits only a set amount of light into a system. The slits and pinholes are tiny enough to act as diffraction sources or spatial filters for a wide spread of applications.

Mirrors are a crucial and commonly used optical component. They are used to fold, bend, and focus optical beams. They are coated to reflect the light. Coatings affect the intensity and polarization state of the reflected beam and so should be chosen with care.

If you and your company are in need of optical components, MicroPEP is the best option available. With over 52 years of experience, MicroPEP is the leader in plastics contract manufacturing technologies. They manufacture sophisticated lenses, prisms, and light pipe components. This includes highly polished surfaces for ease in applying various mirror coatings, such as: Gold, silver, aluminum, and anti-reflective coatings. They also have a laser interferometer and software for measuring range of spherical surfaces and curvature of radius measurements.

Quality is of the utmost importance to MicroPEP, and they will ensure your custom specifications are met in a precise and timely manner.