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• Electronic Imaging Resource Guide (Machine Vision Equipment)
• Frequently Asked Questions on Optics Part 1 (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Each glass type has its own set of specific characteristics. We have selected the best glass types available to produce optimal results for each individual lens design. This is the most significant in... (View Full Article)
• Glass and Coating Specifications [Selecting a Glass Material and Coating] (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Selecting a glass material is important since different glass types have different characteristics. Edmund Optics offers a wide variety of glass types which can be selected on the basis of the... (View Full Article)
• Integration of Optical Systems (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  The following pages are an explanation of the key steps involved in proper optical system integration. These application notes are relevant to both off-the-shelf and custom integration for imaging, as... (View Full Article)
• Laser Resources (Light Sources)
• Using Optical Flats (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  An optical flat is a precisely polished flat surface, used as a reference against which the flatness of an unknown surface may be compared. Edmund Optics offers both single surface and dual surface... (View Full Article)
• "Hard" IBS (Ion-Beam Sputter) Coating Technology (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Conventional narrowband interference filters are fabricated in two steps - one to determine the center wavelength and bandwidth of the filter, and a second step to determine its blocking capabilities.... (View Full Article)
• An Introduction to Optical Coatings (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Optical coatings are used to manipulate the reflectance and transmittance of an optical component. Typical coating examples include: Antireflection Coatings which reduce the amount of light reflected... (View Full Article)
• Anti-Reflection Coatings (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Optical coatings can be critical in an application. Coatings are used to either increase the transmission of light by reducing back reflections (as in the case of lenses, windows, etc.) or to increase... (View Full Article)
• Basic Principles of Silicon Detectors (Sensors, Transducers and Detectors)
  From this Article:

  Through the photovoltaic effect, silicon detectors provide a means of transforming light energy to an electrical current. The root of the theory behind this phenomenon is a small energy gap between... (View Full Article)
• Choosing the Correct Eyepiece (Lab and Test Equipment)
  From this Article:

  The eyepiece is an integral part of any compound visual system. Its purpose is to magnify the real image formed by an objective or intermediate relay system. For this reason, the eyepiece design... (View Full Article)
• Choosing the Correct Illumination (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Often, a customer struggles with contrast and resolution problems in an imaging system, while underestimating the power of proper illumination. In fact, desired image quality can typically be met by... (View Full Article)
• Choosing the Correct Testing Target (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Test targets can be used to evaluate or calibrate an imaging system's performance. Correct assessment of an imaging system is used in certifying proper measurements, establishing a baseline between... (View Full Article)
• Cleaning Optics (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  After purchasing an optical component, exercising proper care can maintain its quality and extend its usable lifetime. Choosing the proper cleaning supplies and using the proper techniques are as... (View Full Article)
• Cleaning Optics (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  After purchasing an optical component, exercising proper care can maintain its quality and extend its useable lifetime. Choose the proper cleaning supplies and using the proper techniques are as... (View Full Article)
• Contrast Enhancement Through Filtering (Filtration and Separation Products)
  From this Article:

  During packaging, pharmaceutical pills of different colors need to be sorted. An automated imaging system, which distinguishes between the different colored pills, is essential in increasing... (View Full Article)
• Correcting Perspective Errors with Telecentricity (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  In this example, a system is required to inspect the prototype of a hardware computer key connector to verify the placement of its pins. This is a laboratory setup requiring no automation. A precise... (View Full Article)
• Electronics (Optoelectronics)
  From this Article:

  Digital cameras are available with a variety of interference options to suit the particular needs of any given application. Some formats, such as the two FireWire varieties, supply video output and... (View Full Article)
• Electronics for Imaging Systems (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  The sensor, as well as other electronic components, plays a significant role in the performance of an imaging system. Proper integration of all components (including camera, capture board, software... (View Full Article)
• Frequently Asked Questions on Optics: Part 1 (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Each glass type has its own set of specific characteristics. We have selected the best glass types available to produce optimal results for each individual lens design. This is the most significant in... (View Full Article)
• Frequently Asked Questions on Optics: Part 2 (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  The axis of a linear polarizer determines the plane of polarization that the polarizer passes. There are two ways of finding the axis of a polarizer. A simple method is to start with a known polarizer... (View Full Article)
• Fundamental Parameters of an Imaging System (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Field of View (FOV): The viewable area of the object under inspection. In other words, this is the portion of the object that fills the camera's sensor. Depth of Field (DOF): The maximum object depth... (View Full Article)
• Fundamentals of Lasers (Lasers)
  From this Article:

  The basic structure of any laser is based on an active medium (either a gas or semiconductor) contained between two reflectors. A laser's reflectors contain light by oscillating it through a medium... (View Full Article)
• Gauging Depth of Field in Your Imaging System (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Over the years, we have answered countless questions regarding lens performance. Of those questions, none have been more difficult to define than requests for depth of field. The reason for this... (View Full Article)
• Glass Material Specifications (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Selecting a glass material is important since different glass types have different characteristics. Edmund Optics offers a wide variety of glass types which can be selected on the basis of the... (View Full Article)
• Glass Material Specifications (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Selecting a glass material is important since different glass types have different characteristics. Edmund Optics offers a wide variety of glass types which can be selected on the basis of the... (View Full Article)
• How to Choose a Magnifier (Lab and Test Equipment)
  From this Article:

  To choose the correct magnifier for the job, first determine what tools are to be used on the job; then determine the size and the character of the subject; and finally, analyze the object's surface... (View Full Article)
• Illumination in Imaging (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  It is not uncommon for a customer to struggle with contrast and resolution problems within an imaging system, while underestimating the power of proper illumination. In fact, the desired image quality... (View Full Article)
• Image Quality (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  An imaging system should create sufficient image quality to allow one to extract desired information about the object from the image. Note that what may be adequate image quality for one application... (View Full Article)
• Imaging Case Study (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Defining your System Parameters: It is important to establish the fundamental system parameters for your application. From the fundamental parameters (FOV, WD, Resolution, etc.) and a few... (View Full Article)
• Inside Filters (Filtration and Separation Products)
  From this Article:

  Filters can be used to attenuate light either evenly across a certain portion of the spectrum (neutral density, polarizing, retarders, etc.) or unevenly (ie. interference, dichroic, color). Typical... (View Full Article)
• Inside Filters (Filtration and Separation Products)
  From this Article:

  Filters can be used to attenuate light either evenly across a certain portion of the spectrum (neutral density, polarizing, retarders, etc.) or unevenly (ie. Interference, dichroic, color). Typical... (View Full Article)
• Integration of Optical Systems (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  These application notes are relevant to both off-the-shelf and custom integration for imaging, as well as non-imaging systems. Please feel free to discuss any of the content in these notes or any... (View Full Article)
• Keys to Cost Effective Optical Design and Tolerancing (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  As most designers know, optical design software can be a powerful tool. But it's just that, a "tool". The proper interpretation of optimized results is just as important as the input of correct... (View Full Article)
• Manipulating Distortion Out of Your Image (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Precise measurements of plastic mesh fencing are needed during production runs to ensure that all dimensions fall within the specified tolerances. In this situation, the space reserved for the imaging... (View Full Article)
• Off-The-Shelf Component Prototyping (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Above photo and schematic shows imaging lens prototyped with C-Mount components. A line generating laser is mounted in the assembly for presence detection of pharmaceutical pills on an assembly line.... (View Full Article)
• Off-The-Shelf Integration (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  The presence of a pill can be tested by analyzing the histograms of the sample area (about the laser line). In presence of a pill, the average pixel count is 248 (standard deviation 17.83). Without... (View Full Article)
• Optics Application Examples (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Although lenses are often used in imaging applications, in many cases the goal of the simple lens is the projection of light from one point to another. To be useful, emitters, detectors, lasers, and... (View Full Article)
• Projector Design Tips (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Designing a custom projector can often be time-consuming and expensive. Here we offer a quick solution anyone can follow. Define your system, consult the chart to the right for the parts necessary,... (View Full Article)
• Selecting Metallic Mirror Coatings (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Edmund manufactures a wide range of precision parabolic, spherical and flat mirrors in our own facility. These products are offered in a variety of metallic coatings to suit all your application... (View Full Article)
• Specifying Resolution of System Components (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Resolution is the minimum feature size of the object that can be distinguished by the imaging system. Modulation Transfer Function testing is a standard in testing the resolution of imaging optics.... (View Full Article)
• Specs to Know for Imaging Lenses (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Machine vision integrators are often faced with the task of selecting the appropriate lens to optimize their vision system's performance. Without understand how too assess the optics, this can be... (View Full Article)
• Spectroscopy and Colorimetry (Calibration and Testing Services)
  From this Article:

  Colorimetry (color measurement) includes many factors such as an object's physical characteristics, the surrounding colors, the light source, and the sensor or viewer. Two spectrally different objects... (View Full Article)
• Successful Polarization Techniques (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Video and machine vision systems rely on electronic imagers that typically exhibit anywhere from eight-bit to twelve-bit signal-to-noise ratio. Although sufficient for many applications, cameras in... (View Full Article)
• Tackling Laser Visibility (Lasers)
  From this Article:

  Our customers often ask us if a laser spot can be seen in their application. While such information can be a critical factor in anything from alignment to targeting applications, the answer to this... (View Full Article)
• Telecentric Lens Optimization for Machine Vision (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Industry and engineering go through many changed and require their machine vision systems to keep pace with the growing need for speed and accuracy in measurement, inspection and robotics. Today there... (View Full Article)
• Type and Definitions of Filters (Filtration and Separation Products)
  From this Article:

  Bandwidth: The wavelength range that a filter passes. This width is defined at a specific transmission value. In the case of interference filters, the standard is to define bandwidth as Full Width at... (View Full Article)
• Understanding Ball Lenses (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  The effective focal length of a ball lens is very simple to calculate (Figure 1) since there are only two variables: the ball lens diameter, D, and the index of refraction, n. The effective focal... (View Full Article)
• Understanding Microscopes (Lab and Test Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Compound microscopes differ from simple magnifiers in that there are two separate magnification steps that occur instead of one. The objective lens is nearest the subject under observation and... (View Full Article)
• Understanding MTF Testing (Calibration and Testing Services)
  From this Article:

  When characterizing the resolution of an imaging lens, it is extremely useful to refer to the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). The MTF of a lens is a measurement of its ability to transfer contrast... (View Full Article)
• Understanding Optical Specifications (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Optics can be found virtually everywhere, from fiber optic couplings to machine vision imaging devices to cutting-edge biometric iris identification systems. Many people don't realize that designing... (View Full Article)
• Understanding Spatial Filters (Filtration and Separation Products)
  From this Article:

  Spatial Filters are designed to be used with lasers to "clean up" the beam. Often times a laser system does not produce a beam with a smooth intensity profile. In order to produce a clean Gaussian... (View Full Article)
• Understanding Video and Imaging Equipment (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  "I would like to use video, but where do I start?" We receive hundreds of calls each year from people wanting to use video in a never-ending variety of applications. Over the years, we have found the... (View Full Article)
• Using Laser Beam Expanders (Lasers)
  From this Article:

  Laser Beam expanders are designed to decrease the laser's beam spot size at large distances. There are two main types of beam expanders: Keplerian and Galilean. In its simplest form, the Galilean type... (View Full Article)
• Using Optical Flats (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  An optical flat is a precisely polished flat surface, used as a reference against which the flatness of an unknown surface may be compared. Edmund Optics offers both single surface and dual surface... (View Full Article)
• Using Telecentric Lenses (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Perspective errors, also called parallax, are part of everyday human experience. In fact, parallax is what allows the brain to interpret the 3-D world. We expect closer objects to appear relatively... (View Full Article)
• Utilizing Aspheres in Optical Design (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Improving image quality, reducing the number of elements needed and lowering costs are all now achievable through the use of aspheres in optical design. From digital cameras and CD players to high-end... (View Full Article)
• Video System Basics (Machine Vision Equipment)
  From this Article:

  Both CCD and Monitor Resolutions are often given in terms of "TV line resolution," which is a test performed using an EIA Test Pattern target. Unfortunately, this specification has no physical units... (View Full Article)
• Visual Color Matching (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Color is one of the most important factors we as human use to inspect and differentiate objects. On a daily basis we use color to make a variety of decisions. Is this food edible? Do my socks match?... (View Full Article)
• What is Telecentricity? (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  Telecentricity is a special property of certain multi-element lens designs in which the chief rays for all points across the object or image are collimated. For example, telecentricity occurs when the... (View Full Article)
• Why Use an Achromat? (Optical Components)
  From this Article:

  An achromatic lens consists of two optical components cemented together, usually a positive low-index (crown) element and a negative high-index (flint) element. The additional design freedom provided... (View Full Article)