AR
CN
DEN
EN
FR
GER
ITA
POR
RUS
SPA
Microlens arrays are rigid arrangements of very tiny lenses, each with a diameter of less than 10 millimeters. These arrays may be one or two dimensional, and are mounted in a regular pattern on a supporting substrate. The microlenses themselves may be circular, square, or hexagonal, and the array may be square, hexagonal, or some other geometric shape. Microlens arrays are used in optical microscopes and light fields cameras, on CCD arrays, and for 3D imaging and displays, fiber coupling, optical sensors and LIDAR systems.
At Shanghai Optics, we produce both 1- and 2-dimensional arrays in various configurations, sizes, and focal lengths. These arrays are manufactured from high-quality fused silica, ensuring optimal performance ranging from 193 nm to 2.5 micrometers. The index of refraction of these arrays is 1.561 at 248 nm and 1.444 at 1550 nm.
Photolightographic techniques and semiconductor processing technology allow us to produce precisely positioned arrays with very accurate shaping of the lens profile. We can work with you to produce custom microlens arrays according to your specifications, and our experienced design team is able to provide consultation and design help as needed. Our many years of experience, coupled with state of the art equipment, allow us to produce high quality optics to almost any specification.
Microlens arrays offer large field of view angles, high temporal resolution, low aberration and distortion, and infinite depth of field, making them ideal for 3D imaging and other optical applications requiring non-Gaussian uniformity and high efficiency. For instance, in digital projectors, microlens arrays focus light onto the LCD’s active area to generate bright, crisp images. We’ve developed a novel LED pico-projector design incorporating a special array of 45 microlenses aligned on the display cover glass, resulting in a highly compact yet robust projector.
In a digital projector, microlens arrays can be used to focus light on to the active area of the LCD to generate the image which will be projected. A novel design for a LED pico-projector involves using a special array of 45 microlenses aligned on the display coverglass. The use of a microlens array in this projector design allows the projector to be highly compact and robust while still being capable of producing bright, crisp imagery.
These arrays are particularly useful in tailor-made applications such as beam shaping, beam homogenization, fiber coupling, and 3D imaging. They also play crucial roles in fields including medical devices, wavefront sensors, optical communication, laser optics, and metrology. The versatility of microstructure lens arrays ensures their valuable presence in an array of cutting-edge technologies and industries, contributing to advancements and improvements in various optical systems.
Microstructure lens arrays excel in achieving a harmonized balance of customization and diversity, setting them apart from conventional optical components. Their unique ability to cater to specific customer requirements for beam patterns makes them indispensable in the field of optics. Beyond their fundamental functionalities of focusing and imaging, their small sub-lens sizes and high integration enable them to achieve effects unattainable by traditional optical elements. This pivotal characteristic has rendered them essential components in cutting-edge optical systems, playing a crucial role in the advancement of optical technology.
According to the homogenization principle, a laser beam passes through each individual microlens, effectively homogenizing the beam and resulting in a uniform and consistent output. This uniformity ensures more precise and reliable optical performance, making them particularly beneficial in various applications.
Square microlens arrays are primarily used for beam homogenization and shaping. Their very high fill factor (up to 98%) essentially eliminates zero order hot spots in the illuminated field. A standard square microlens is 10mm x 10mm configuration, although we can provide custom sizes upon request. A variety of focal length and lens pitch options are also available.
A fly’s eye array consists of individual square or rectangular microlenses mounted on a substrate in a close-packed, no-gaps configuration. A typical array will have 7-11 channels in each direction, optically overlapped in the illumination plane. The surface of the microlenses may be either anamorphic or spherical.
When a pair of fly’s eye arrays is used in combination with a condenser lens they can provide uniform irradiance at the illumination plane. When set up in this configuration the first array is called the objective array, and the second the field array.
Factory Standard Specifications
Contact us for manufacturing limit or custom specifications.