Optical Systems Design, LLC: Using SYNOPSYS Automatic Design Search Tools in Optical Designs

Abstract

Traditionally, Optical Engineers have relied on having a good starting point - a design that comes close to the desired goals - and then tweaking that to make it work. However, having such a starting point is rare. Except in a few simple cases, there is no closed-form solution to the lens design problem. One must think, go through trials, learn from experience, and iterate. The Automatic Design Tools in SYNOPSYS™ are created to provide an effective solution by putting as much of the design burden on the computer, freeing Engineers from the most tedious of these traditional tasks. It aims to ease the process in finding good starting points, and to facilitate exploration of the design space to discover alternative design forms which may deliver better performances not normally realized using conventional design protocols. In this video, we will illustrate the use of the following Design Tools: • Design Search (DSEARCH): A search tool for fixed focus systems. • Automatic Element Scanning Tools: These tools scan the lens systems to find the best place to insert or delete elements or to use an unusual surface such as aspheric. We start with an introduction to SYNOPSYS™ and its automatic design search tools. We will use a seven- element system as an example to illustrate the DSEARCH tool in SYNOPSYS and how the system tolerance requirements can be relaxed when searched with the tolerance desensitization goal. Then we will show how to use the automatic element insertion/deletion tools to improve the lens system.