1. Overview

Optical lenses are critical components in optoelectronic systems, designed to focus, collimate, or shape light waves through refraction. These precision-engineered components enable control over light propagation in wavelength ranges spanning UV to IR spectra. Modern applications span imaging, telecommunications, industrial sensing, and scientific instrumentation, with recent advancements enabling miniaturization and multi-spectral capabilities.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

3. Structure and Composition

Typical lens assemblies consist of: - Optical substrate (glass/crystal/polymers) with precision-surfaced curvatures - Anti-reflective coatings (single/multi-layer dielectrics) - Mechanical housing for alignment stability - Optional spectral filters or diffractive elements Advanced designs integrate liquid crystal layers for tunable focus or MEMS-based adaptive shaping.

4. Key Technical Specifications

5. Application Fields

Key industries include: - Semiconductor manufacturing (DUV lithography optics) - Medical imaging (endoscopic GRIN lenses) - Autonomous vehicles (LiDAR beam steering systems) - Telecommunications (fiber optic collimators) - Scientific research (extreme UV focusing mirrors)

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations: - Match spectral transmission to light source (e.g., UV fused silica for 200-350nm) - Balance EFL with sensor size for desired FOV - Environmental factors: operating temperature (-40 C to +85 C typical) - Mounting compatibility (CCS-B, M12, or custom interfaces) - Cost vs. performance trade-offs (e.g., aspheric vs. spherical)

8. Industry Trends

Current developments focus on: - Metasurface-based flat optics for AR applications - Multi-material hybrid lenses combining glass and polymers - AI-optimized lens designs reducing Zemax simulation cycles - Wafer-level manufacturing enabling CMOS camera lens arrays - SWIR imaging lenses leveraging indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) materials