Zemax

Kirkland, WA 98033

COMPANY OVERVIEW

About Zemax

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Contact

10230 NE Points Dr
Suite 540
Kirkland, WA 98033
United States
http://www.zemax.com
425-305-2743
425-305-2743

More Info on Zemax

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Around the time the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, Zemax began delivering optical software and services to help engineers, scientists, researchers, and students bring their ideas into reality. Since then, we’ve remained true to the vision of our founder Dr. Ken Moore: to offer a rock-solid physics architecture, to uphold a culture of excellence and innovation, and to always listen to our customers.
Product teams are under pressure to develop the best products in the shortest time possible. Companies that design optical systems are seeking ways to get to market faster. Modern virtual prototyping is the answer.

Zemax software helps companies get to a qualified design more quickly by streamlining the workflow and communication between optical, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers. Zemax tools include OpticStudio, the industry-leading optical design software, OpticsBuilder, for CAD users packaging optical system, and OpticsViewer for manufacturing engineers. Our software physics core has been relied on by NASA and industry leaders to analyze and validate complete product designs.

In addition to unmatched software value, we offer comprehensive technical support and introductory, advanced, and customized training. Our global team serves customers in English, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. With headquarters in the Seattle area and offices in the UK, Japan, Taiwan, and China, we’re proud to have the most passionate, worldwide user base in the industry.

Products

Buyer's Guide

LensMechanix

Application for mechanical engineers to package optical systems in CAD.
Buyer's Guide

OpticStudio

Design optics with great precision.
Buyer's Guide

LensMechanix

Application for mechanical engineers to package optical systems in CAD.
Buyer's Guide

OpticStudio

Design optics with great precision.

Videos

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Home

Ansys' OpticStudio STAR Module

The OpticStudio STAR Module from Ansys gives optical engineers many powerful and unique features that improve design workflows and product performance in ways that might previously...

Resources

White Papers

ON TOPIC: Driving Automotive Innovation

There are few industries where photonics has as much widespread potential as the automotive market. And as autonomy and battery electric vehicles continue to work into the mainstream...
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White Papers

SMARTPaper: High-Yield Optimization

Streamlining the path to more easily manufacturable designs

Articles

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Executive Forum

EQT Private Equity to sell optical design software company Zemax

EQT Private Equity will sell Zemax, an optical product design and simulation software provider, to Ansys.
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Software & Accessories

Optical design software offers structural, thermal, and optical performance analysis

OpticStudio 21.2 and OpticsBuilder 21.2 optical design software programs feature a new structural, thermal, and optical performance (STOP) analysis module.
(Credit: Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay)
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Optics

LaCroix Precision Optics partners with Zemax

LaCroix Precision Optics will offer its LaCroix Cost Estimator in Zemax OpticStudio optical design software.
Optomechanical setup for writing a microlens on the tip of an endoscopic fiber via a two-photon process.
Optomechanical setup for writing a microlens on the tip of an endoscopic fiber via a two-photon process.
Optomechanical setup for writing a microlens on the tip of an endoscopic fiber via a two-photon process.
Optomechanical setup for writing a microlens on the tip of an endoscopic fiber via a two-photon process.
Optomechanical setup for writing a microlens on the tip of an endoscopic fiber via a two-photon process.
Optics

Aspherical microlens is laser-written onto the tip of a fiber-optic microendoscope

Using two-photon direct laser writing, a microscopic asphere is fabricated on the fiber tip of a fiber-optic microendoscope; the lens is aberration-free.
Software

Zemax optical design software update offers editable optics capabilities

OpticStudio 20.3 provides an updated core optimization algorithm, new CAD libraries, and new API enhancements.
(Image credit: NASA)
FIGURE 1. OSLO, by Lambda Research Corporation, was used in the design and analysis of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
FIGURE 1. OSLO, by Lambda Research Corporation, was used in the design and analysis of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
FIGURE 1. OSLO, by Lambda Research Corporation, was used in the design and analysis of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
FIGURE 1. OSLO, by Lambda Research Corporation, was used in the design and analysis of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
FIGURE 1. OSLO, by Lambda Research Corporation, was used in the design and analysis of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Optics

Lens-design software enables modern precision optics

Having grown in capabilities over decades of development, modern optical-design software models, optimizes, and tolerances complex optical systems with ease.
Software

Zemax optical design file-viewing software creates shared files

OpticsViewer software allows engineers to share, view, and validate native OpticStudio design files to ensure optical systems meet manufacturing requirements.
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Home

Laser Focus World announces 2019 Innovators Awards

For the second year, Laser Focus World held its Innovators Awards program, which celebrates the disparate and innovative technologies, products, and systems found in the photonics...
(Courtesy of Synopsys)
FIGURE 1. These freeform optics were designed in LightTools (a). The software can help identify manufacturing tolerances for tailored surfaces used in freeform optics for illumination. Head models are created from image data using Synopsys Simpleware software (b). Simpleware can be used in conjunction with LightTools to run detailed optical scenarios in 3D anatomical models for biomedical applications.
FIGURE 1. These freeform optics were designed in LightTools (a). The software can help identify manufacturing tolerances for tailored surfaces used in freeform optics for illumination. Head models are created from image data using Synopsys Simpleware software (b). Simpleware can be used in conjunction with LightTools to run detailed optical scenarios in 3D anatomical models for biomedical applications.
FIGURE 1. These freeform optics were designed in LightTools (a). The software can help identify manufacturing tolerances for tailored surfaces used in freeform optics for illumination. Head models are created from image data using Synopsys Simpleware software (b). Simpleware can be used in conjunction with LightTools to run detailed optical scenarios in 3D anatomical models for biomedical applications.
FIGURE 1. These freeform optics were designed in LightTools (a). The software can help identify manufacturing tolerances for tailored surfaces used in freeform optics for illumination. Head models are created from image data using Synopsys Simpleware software (b). Simpleware can be used in conjunction with LightTools to run detailed optical scenarios in 3D anatomical models for biomedical applications.
FIGURE 1. These freeform optics were designed in LightTools (a). The software can help identify manufacturing tolerances for tailored surfaces used in freeform optics for illumination. Head models are created from image data using Synopsys Simpleware software (b). Simpleware can be used in conjunction with LightTools to run detailed optical scenarios in 3D anatomical models for biomedical applications.
Software

Illumination Optical-design Software: Illumination-design software optimizes complex geometries

In its many different forms, illumination-design software models and optimizes complex optics and the illumination fields that they produce.
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Zemax

Correcting six common types of lens aberrations

In optical design, aberrations occur when light from one point of an object doesn’t converge into or diverge from a single point after transmission through the system. Learn how...

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Content Dam Lfw En Articles Print Volume 54 Issue 05 Features Laser Focus World Announces 2018 Innovators Awards Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
Content Dam Lfw En Articles Print Volume 54 Issue 05 Features Laser Focus World Announces 2018 Innovators Awards Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
Content Dam Lfw En Articles Print Volume 54 Issue 05 Features Laser Focus World Announces 2018 Innovators Awards Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
Content Dam Lfw En Articles Print Volume 54 Issue 05 Features Laser Focus World Announces 2018 Innovators Awards Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
Content Dam Lfw En Articles Print Volume 54 Issue 05 Features Laser Focus World Announces 2018 Innovators Awards Leftcolumn Article Thumbnailimage File
Positioning, Support & Accessories

Laser Focus World announces 2018 Innovators Awards

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FIGURE 1. The August 2017 Gartner Hype Cycle of emerging technologies from Gartner, Inc.
FIGURE 1. The August 2017 Gartner Hype Cycle of emerging technologies from Gartner, Inc.
FIGURE 1. The August 2017 Gartner Hype Cycle of emerging technologies from Gartner, Inc.
FIGURE 1. The August 2017 Gartner Hype Cycle of emerging technologies from Gartner, Inc.
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Software

Freeform Optics Design: Optical design challenges in virtual and augmented reality

Freeform-optics design software and virtual prototyping are accelerating the progress in bringing AR and VR headsets to market.
FIGURE 1. A 25 mm single Gauss system is imported as a STEP file with a ray bundle.
FIGURE 1. A 25 mm single Gauss system is imported as a STEP file with a ray bundle.
FIGURE 1. A 25 mm single Gauss system is imported as a STEP file with a ray bundle.
FIGURE 1. A 25 mm single Gauss system is imported as a STEP file with a ray bundle.
FIGURE 1. A 25 mm single Gauss system is imported as a STEP file with a ray bundle.
Optics

Optical Design: Simplify optomechanical design while eliminating STEP files and ray bundles

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Photo copyright Fraunhofer ILT, Aachen
A DWDM prototype is based on actively cooled DFB mini-bars.
A DWDM prototype is based on actively cooled DFB mini-bars.
A DWDM prototype is based on actively cooled DFB mini-bars.
A DWDM prototype is based on actively cooled DFB mini-bars.
A DWDM prototype is based on actively cooled DFB mini-bars.
Lasers & Sources

BRIDLE develops cost-efficient diode lasers for industrial applications

High-brightness direct-diode lasers are another result of the project.
(Image courtesy of Zemax)
FIGURE 1. With Zemax's OpticStudio, an engineer can design an optics system, and the software simulates the behavior of the system and prepares output for manufacturing.
FIGURE 1. With Zemax's OpticStudio, an engineer can design an optics system, and the software simulates the behavior of the system and prepares output for manufacturing.
FIGURE 1. With Zemax's OpticStudio, an engineer can design an optics system, and the software simulates the behavior of the system and prepares output for manufacturing.
FIGURE 1. With Zemax's OpticStudio, an engineer can design an optics system, and the software simulates the behavior of the system and prepares output for manufacturing.
FIGURE 1. With Zemax's OpticStudio, an engineer can design an optics system, and the software simulates the behavior of the system and prepares output for manufacturing.
Software

Biomedical Optics Design: Software speeds development of biomedical optics

Designing and simulating optical systems for life sciences applications is increasingly easy, thanks to a number of software options.
Courtesy of Synopsys
FIGURE 1. A cell-phone lens was optimized in CODE V without any control of tolerance sensitivity (a); a similar cell-phone lens was globally optimized in CODE V including the tolerance-sensitivity error function, resulting in a 24% improvement in RMS wavefront error (b). The cumulative probability charts show the probability of achieving the indicated RMS wavefront error performance for systems built within a set of specified tolerances using designated compensators. As the curves move farther to the left, better as-built performance is achieved.
FIGURE 1. A cell-phone lens was optimized in CODE V without any control of tolerance sensitivity (a); a similar cell-phone lens was globally optimized in CODE V including the tolerance-sensitivity error function, resulting in a 24% improvement in RMS wavefront error (b). The cumulative probability charts show the probability of achieving the indicated RMS wavefront error performance for systems built within a set of specified tolerances using designated compensators. As the curves move farther to the left, better as-built performance is achieved.
FIGURE 1. A cell-phone lens was optimized in CODE V without any control of tolerance sensitivity (a); a similar cell-phone lens was globally optimized in CODE V including the tolerance-sensitivity error function, resulting in a 24% improvement in RMS wavefront error (b). The cumulative probability charts show the probability of achieving the indicated RMS wavefront error performance for systems built within a set of specified tolerances using designated compensators. As the curves move farther to the left, better as-built performance is achieved.
FIGURE 1. A cell-phone lens was optimized in CODE V without any control of tolerance sensitivity (a); a similar cell-phone lens was globally optimized in CODE V including the tolerance-sensitivity error function, resulting in a 24% improvement in RMS wavefront error (b). The cumulative probability charts show the probability of achieving the indicated RMS wavefront error performance for systems built within a set of specified tolerances using designated compensators. As the curves move farther to the left, better as-built performance is achieved.
FIGURE 1. A cell-phone lens was optimized in CODE V without any control of tolerance sensitivity (a); a similar cell-phone lens was globally optimized in CODE V including the tolerance-sensitivity error function, resulting in a 24% improvement in RMS wavefront error (b). The cumulative probability charts show the probability of achieving the indicated RMS wavefront error performance for systems built within a set of specified tolerances using designated compensators. As the curves move farther to the left, better as-built performance is achieved.
Optics

Photonics Products: Lens-design Software: Optical design benefits from interconnected software

Optical-design programs encompass lens and illuminator design, analysis, and tolerancing, as well as photometrically tailored design and the interface with external computer-aided...
(Courtesy of Zygo Corporation)
FIGURE 1. A power-spectral-density (PSD) plot from a NewView 3D optical-profiler of a diamond-turned surface includes spatial periods ranging from 100 to 0.5 μm.
FIGURE 1. A power-spectral-density (PSD) plot from a NewView 3D optical-profiler of a diamond-turned surface includes spatial periods ranging from 100 to 0.5 μm.
FIGURE 1. A power-spectral-density (PSD) plot from a NewView 3D optical-profiler of a diamond-turned surface includes spatial periods ranging from 100 to 0.5 μm.
FIGURE 1. A power-spectral-density (PSD) plot from a NewView 3D optical-profiler of a diamond-turned surface includes spatial periods ranging from 100 to 0.5 μm.
FIGURE 1. A power-spectral-density (PSD) plot from a NewView 3D optical-profiler of a diamond-turned surface includes spatial periods ranging from 100 to 0.5 μm.
Test & Measurement

LARGE OPTICS: Mid-spatial-frequency errors: the hidden culprit of poor optical performance

Mid-spatial-frequency (MSF) errors are higher in frequency than Zernike polynomial specs and lower than surface roughness; they can be the bane of high-performance optical systems...
FIGURE 1. Global shape descriptors are shown for some common optical components.
FIGURE 1. Global shape descriptors are shown for some common optical components.
FIGURE 1. Global shape descriptors are shown for some common optical components.
FIGURE 1. Global shape descriptors are shown for some common optical components.
FIGURE 1. Global shape descriptors are shown for some common optical components.
Software

DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING: Practical design software eases asphere manufacturability

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Software

ZEMAX software now models Edmund Optics lenses

Edmund Optics lenses are now included in Radiant ZEMAX ray-tracing optical design software.
In the design of a nonsequential system, the merit function curve is very choppy when just the base radius of curvature of a mirror is varied, so it is difficult to optimize (top). Pixel-interpolation routines improve the definition of the merit function by spreading the energy of a single ray to multiple pixels. The resulting merit function is smoother and indicates regions of minimized merit function and maximum on-axis brightness (center). Using the moment-of-illumination data, any slight change to the optical design that affects any ray is accounted for. The resulting merit function is far smoother (bottom).
In the design of a nonsequential system, the merit function curve is very choppy when just the base radius of curvature of a mirror is varied, so it is difficult to optimize (top). Pixel-interpolation routines improve the definition of the merit function by spreading the energy of a single ray to multiple pixels. The resulting merit function is smoother and indicates regions of minimized merit function and maximum on-axis brightness (center). Using the moment-of-illumination data, any slight change to the optical design that affects any ray is accounted for. The resulting merit function is far smoother (bottom).
In the design of a nonsequential system, the merit function curve is very choppy when just the base radius of curvature of a mirror is varied, so it is difficult to optimize (top). Pixel-interpolation routines improve the definition of the merit function by spreading the energy of a single ray to multiple pixels. The resulting merit function is smoother and indicates regions of minimized merit function and maximum on-axis brightness (center). Using the moment-of-illumination data, any slight change to the optical design that affects any ray is accounted for. The resulting merit function is far smoother (bottom).
In the design of a nonsequential system, the merit function curve is very choppy when just the base radius of curvature of a mirror is varied, so it is difficult to optimize (top). Pixel-interpolation routines improve the definition of the merit function by spreading the energy of a single ray to multiple pixels. The resulting merit function is smoother and indicates regions of minimized merit function and maximum on-axis brightness (center). Using the moment-of-illumination data, any slight change to the optical design that affects any ray is accounted for. The resulting merit function is far smoother (bottom).
In the design of a nonsequential system, the merit function curve is very choppy when just the base radius of curvature of a mirror is varied, so it is difficult to optimize (top). Pixel-interpolation routines improve the definition of the merit function by spreading the energy of a single ray to multiple pixels. The resulting merit function is smoother and indicates regions of minimized merit function and maximum on-axis brightness (center). Using the moment-of-illumination data, any slight change to the optical design that affects any ray is accounted for. The resulting merit function is far smoother (bottom).
Optics

Ray-tracing method optimizes design of nonimaging systems

Computer-based design programs are now the standard design tool for optimization of imaging systems such as camera lenses and telescopes.
FIGURE 1. Aspheric subaperture-stitching interferometry can be used to measure the surface figures of aspheres such as this ellipsoid (conic), which has a 100 mm aperture diameter, a base radius of -226 mm, and approximately 12 µm of aspheric departure. The asphere is fabricated from lightweighted silicon carbide with silicon cladding.
FIGURE 1. Aspheric subaperture-stitching interferometry can be used to measure the surface figures of aspheres such as this ellipsoid (conic), which has a 100 mm aperture diameter, a base radius of -226 mm, and approximately 12 µm of aspheric departure. The asphere is fabricated from lightweighted silicon carbide with silicon cladding.
FIGURE 1. Aspheric subaperture-stitching interferometry can be used to measure the surface figures of aspheres such as this ellipsoid (conic), which has a 100 mm aperture diameter, a base radius of -226 mm, and approximately 12 µm of aspheric departure. The asphere is fabricated from lightweighted silicon carbide with silicon cladding.
FIGURE 1. Aspheric subaperture-stitching interferometry can be used to measure the surface figures of aspheres such as this ellipsoid (conic), which has a 100 mm aperture diameter, a base radius of -226 mm, and approximately 12 µm of aspheric departure. The asphere is fabricated from lightweighted silicon carbide with silicon cladding.
FIGURE 1. Aspheric subaperture-stitching interferometry can be used to measure the surface figures of aspheres such as this ellipsoid (conic), which has a 100 mm aperture diameter, a base radius of -226 mm, and approximately 12 µm of aspheric departure. The asphere is fabricated from lightweighted silicon carbide with silicon cladding.
Optics

ASPHERIC OPTICS: Distributing aspheric surfaces brings down cost

Distributed, mild aspheric surfaces and subaperture-stitching interferometry combine to form a cost-effective approach to fabricating aspheric optics.