In order to give you a example of our work, we’ll show the results of a project that involved both measuring and analyzing an existing system, and optical modeling to improve this system.
One of our customers had a problem with the lens of their product: a mechanical feature of the injection-molded lens caused shadowing and bands in the light distribution. The mechanical feature could not be altered or moved, and the solution had to come from changing the optics of the lens.
We started with measurements of the lens, both mechanically as optically. With our goniophotometer, the light distribution was measured as well. After this, we used our raytrace software, ASAP, to create an optical model of the lens, with the intent to replicate the measured light distribution.
The figures below show that the model and the measurements corresponded well; the images show the light distribution when the lightsource is placed in front of a wall. The shadow effect is clearly visible. The image on the left is the result of ASAP simulations, while the image on the right is a photograph of the actual product.
Below are graphs of the simulated/calculated light distribution: to the left the simulation, the measured data is on the right. The shadow effect can be seen as bumps on both sides.
From these results, it was concluded that the model predicted the actual situation well. The model was then used to calculate the effect of ifferent changes to the lens, and an improved lens was designed. After a few weeks, we received the prototypes of the lens and new measurements were performed. The lens was much improved, the shadowing and banding were gone.
Even though differences can be seen between the model and the measured performance, further improvements to the model were unneccessary, the measured performance met our customer’s requirements.