An Excelitas Technologies Company
OPTOLINES
JOURNAL FOR PHOTONIC SOLUTIONS
Q-Sets
How to save time in the lab
Trade Show Special
Product News
to Vision and Precision Fair 2014
Thin Films
Coating Competence in Goettingen
Chip-on-the-tip
Micro-optics for medical diagnostics
Without detours to success –
complete systems from Qioptiq:
the new Q-Sets.
No 36 | 2014
2
Editorial
Contents
Innovas
New PreDesigner Version 5.0 | Page 3
Qioptiq latest
Qioptiq at VISION | Page 5
Qioptiq at Precision Fair | Page 11
NEW
Qioptiq Q-Sets give you complete, tested assemblies for
your setup: Q-Sets – How to save time in the lab | Page 12
Dear Readers,
Over the next two years Qioptiq will be
investing three million euros to modernize the
machining and technology facilities at their
location in Regen. Thanks to the expertise of some 270 highly specialized on-site
employees and a commitment to continuous
technological development, Qioptiq Regen
has become one of the few sites in the world
where high-precision freeform surfaces can
be manufactured under serial production
conditions.
Innovas
The Fraunhofer Application Center for Plasma and
Photonics – Laser Plasma Hybrid Processes in Optical
Technologies | Page 14
Quality
Thin-film coatings at Qioptiq – The LINOS coatings
| Page 17
This is just one of the many ways in which
Qioptiq, as part of the Excelitas group, is
positioning itself as a customer-oriented hightech leader. After all, precision optics require
accuracy in the nanometer range, and that is
what the Regen plant delivers. The planned
investment is part of Qioptiq's strategy for
maintaining and expanding our competitive
technological edge – investing now for efficient production with future technologies!
Innovas
The Coating Center in Göttingen | Page 19
Quality
Qioptiq in Aßlar – Big in Micro-optics | Page 23
Qioptiq live
Busy days at the LASYS – The first Göttingen Metrology
Symposium | Page 26
We cordially invite you to join us, in this issue
of Optolines, for a guided tour among the
innovations now emerging at Qioptiq. But
"real life" is still our favorite format for keeping in touch – like when we meet up at the
VISION trade show in Stuttgart. Come and see
us at Booth H 66 in Hall 1!
Qioptiq live
Trade show calendar, Recommended reading | Page 27
Dr. Robert Vollmers
Managing Director
Imprint
Publisher:
Qioptiq Photonics GmbH & Co. KG,
Königsallee 23,
37081 Göttingen, Germany
© Editing and Production:
BEISERT & HINZ
Unternehmenskommunikation GmbH
www.BEISERT-HINZ.de
Phone: +49 (0)551/6935 0
www.qioptiq.com
℗ REMA Verlag
BEISERT & HINZ
ISSN 2193-9462
Corporate Design:
abc cross media GmbH, München
No 36 | 2014 optolines
Innovas
New PreDesigner
version 5.0
Update with „social media“ functions
We are always looking for new ways to help our customers, and the latest update of the Pre-Designer app is
no exception.
On the technical side, we have added a
new type of graphic - the ‘lens nomogram’.
This can be shown beside or as an alternative to the standard lens diagram. Nomograms are fascinat-ing tools for visualising
different equations and were widely used
in pre computer days. The lens nomogram
neatly displays the relationship between
object & image locations and focal length
on a three axis graph. This diagram is
interactive, so any of these three ‘points’
can be changed with a finger tip, and the
others will update immediately - a great
teaching aid!
ial features do
Take notice these soc
ions on your
require some permiss
n’t be surprised
Android device, so do
you are updating.
to see them listed if
Product Manager Dr. Jörg Kohl-Landgraf with
the new PreDesigner version
share [social]
Share with colleagues –
your choice of:
• playstore url
• design data [textual]
• design drawing
• full screen capture
We have also taken the opportunity to
add some new ‘social’ features:
Sharing: now easy to share design data or
screen captures with (others) or print them.
Choose what you want to share and the
app will let you decide how to share it, and
who with. If on your contact list, the right
details are filled in to save time.
• News area: shows the latest Qioptiq
#catalog tweet - info & offers. You can
hide this after a few seconds or tap it
to see previous tweets.
• Google plusOne button – for people to
‘like’ the app
nomogram [technical]
twitter [social]
Interactive tool showing link between:
• object distance
• focal length
• image distance
Show with / instead of standard lens
diagram.
• Scrolling single line footer shows
latest Qioptiq #catalog tweet with
news, offers etc
• Tap to see tweet list & retweet
options
• Option to hide footer till next tweet
arrives.
Google +1 button to ‘like’ this app - recommend it to others!
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
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4
Solutions Worldwide.
Close to you.
Qioptiq at VISION 2014
Vision 2014, the world's leading trade
show for the image processing industry,
will be held in Stuttgart from November
4 through 6 this year. The Vision trade
show is an international marketplace
for component manufacturers as well
as for system providers and system integrators. This is where OEMs, mechanical engineers and system vendors come
to learn about the latest innovations in
components made for image processing
systems. The Vision show also brings
end users together with a wide range of
system integrators.
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
5
Qioptiq
Hall 1, H 66
STUTTGART
04-06.11.2014
Qioptiq at VISION 2014
Hall 1 | Booth H 66
Qioptiq will be there too, welcoming
visitors to our booth and providing, as
our slogan says, "Solutions worldwide.
Close to you." Experience our newest
innovations and highlights in machine
vision products: Test the latest version
of our software, MachVis 4.0! See for
yourself how the new, all-metal objectives with fixed apertures in the Rodagon
series guarantee a more stable mount
than ever! Try out the new built-in autofocus function in our high-performance
inspection system, mag.x system 125!
The following pages bring you an overview of the news and highlights we are
presenting at our Vision 2014 Qioptiq
booth.
We look forward to seeing you there,
at booth H 66 in Hall 1! We would be
pleased to send you tickets to the trade
show, free of charge. Just e-mail your
request to empfang@qioptiq.de and we
will send your personal admission code
right away.
When
Flexibility
matters,
We have
ect
your perf
imaging
Match!
Trade shows are fun – and they can be tiring!
Need some refreshments to help you
get through a long day?
We have just the thing, waiting for
you at our booth:
Delicious pastries and fresh,
hot coffee!
We're looking forward to seeing
you!
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
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Solutions Worldwide.
Close to you.
Wide range of products for the
Machine Vision industry
We will be presenting the entire Qioptiq
line of Machine Vision products. Once
again, Qioptiq shows its strength as the
manufacturer with the broadest array of
solutions for industrial and non-industrial applications. You can find the right
lenses for practically any application, or
put together the solution you need with
modules from our Fusion and mag.x system 125 product families.
Plus, the VISION 2014 is the first time
we will be showing products from the
Excelitas portfolio, too. The lighting systems in their X-Cite series, for example,
are easy to combine with the mag.x system 125 products. Come to the Qioptiq
booth for a live demonstration of this
excellent combination!
MachVis 4.0: New options for easy
lens selection
Operating distance, object size, sensor
size and camera mount are the basic
parameters determining the equipment
used in vision technology applications.
The MachVis software from Qioptiq is an
extremely useful tool designed specifically
to help you with the complex tasks in this
field. Simply enter your four parameters
and MachVis will do the calculations you
need for creating complete systems. The
MachVis lens database, included in delivery, lists all of the possible lenses and their
accessories. Three-dimensional models
are available now for download, as well
as specification sheets on the lenses and
accessories.
The wide Qioptiq product range for Machine Vision.
Experience the new MachVis 4.0 at
the Qioptiq booth! MachVis 4.0 has a
special configurator for the new mag.x
system 125 inspection system. Thanks
to the modular design of this series, the
base unit can be fitted with any of a
number of illumination options. Another
new addition is the inspec.x L 5.6 / 105
float inspection objective. The inspec.x
L 5.6/105 float is equipped for motorization, and with its floating element
it delivers extraordinary performance
over the broad 0.3-fold to 3-fold imaging scale range. Also integrated in the
new version is the flo.x 2.8/3.35 liquid
lens objective with S-Mount, for smooth
focusing adjustments with no mechanical moving parts.
MachVis 4.0 is available for download, free of charge, from our website at www.qioptiq.com/machvis!
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
7
Qioptiq
Hall 1, H 66
STUTTGART
04-06.11.2014
Qioptiq at VISION 2014
Hall 1 | Booth H 66
Traffic Vision:
The growing industry in traffic monitoring
Traffic monitoring and mobility form
one of the fastest growing non-industrial areas in the field of image processing technology. This is nowhere
more apparent than at VISION 2014.
Exhibitors that focus on this field
will be marked by a special "Traffic
Vision" logo as a special orientation
aid for visitors from the traffic sector.
Moreover, a number of talks on "Imaging Processing for the Traffic Industry"
will be given as well. Qioptiq has been
supplying its MeVis-C objectives to the
traffic industry for a number of years
now.
MeVis-C lenses:
Superior imaging performance for tasks in traffic monitoring
The MeVis-C lenses from Qioptiq
deliver high resolution, low distortion and excellent color correction in
a robust, and field-proven package.
The unique optical design employs
a floating element to correct aberration over a wide range of working
distances. This ensures high contrast
from close working distances out
through infinity. MeVis-C lenses are
available in focal lengths of 12 mm,
16 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm and 50 mm
and support sensors up to 1 inch (12
and 16 mm: up to 2/3"). All lenses
feature a c-mount interface, as well
as locking screws for focus and aperture rings.
We offer three distinct lens series in the
MeVis-C product line to meet specific
operating requirement:
• MeVis-C: General purpose c-mount
lenses with lockable iris and focus
rings in heavy-duty, full-metal housings
• MeVis-CF: Especially rugged designs
with fixed iris apertures and lockable
focus mechanism for use in high-vibration, harsh-environment applications
• MeVis-CM: Motorized version of the
MeVis-C lens design offering automated iris and focus for remote use
applications
resolution over the entire field of
view with open aperture. Ideal for
traffic-monitoring requiring high
performance for plate number
recognition and facial definition.
MeVis-C lenses are field proven as
the best choice for modern highresolution sensors like Sony ICX814
and others.
All three product lines employ the same
optical design that ensures superior
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
8
Solutions Worldwide.
Close to you.
New:
Qioptiq’s high-performance inspection system is now available
with built-in autofocus!
Qioptiq is expanding their modular,
high-performance mag.x system 125 by
the addition of built-in autofocus components. The new AF base unit and the
piezo-module can now be used to create
an automated microscope system with
through-the-lens autofocus.
The mag.x system 125 is an industrial
microscope system specially developed
for use with large sensors - up to 57
mm diagonal – to enable sub-micrometer resolution over large object fields.
This unmatched optical performance is
achieved with high numerical aperture
lenses that feature an exceptionally large
exit pupil.
Exact focusing is essential when using resolutions this high. To simplify focusing in
an automated environment, Qioptiq has
integrated a complete, modular autofocus solution in the mag.x system 125. The
piezo-module plays the active role: in a
fraction of a second it focuses to within
a few nanometers of accuracy. The new
AF base unit couples the laser from an
autofocus sensor into the beam path. The
autofocus sensor and piezo-module constitute a closed-loop system that ensures
optimum focus in object plane. The modular design and open interfaces make a
number of configurations possible, so the
device is compatible with a wide range of
applications.
Thus Qioptiq enables the
use of microscopy technology for inspection
of large areas and
objects using large
area or line sensors. Since no
stitching is needed and high-resolution
sensors can be used, the mag.x system
125 enables significantly shorter tact
times without compromising the resolution of the inspection system.
When
n
Resoluti,o
matters
5
mag.x 12 t
fec
is the per
Match!
VISION 2014!
Don't miss our talk at
ess area, will be
r Vision Technology busin
ou
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or
ect
Dir
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äffl
Sch
esThomas
chine Vision" on Wedn
utofocus Systems in Ma
in
giving a talk entitled "A
um
for
ys
Vision Da
at 1 pm in the Industrial
day, November 5, 2014
Hall 1, Booth E10.
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
9
Qioptiq
Hall 1, H 66
STUTTGART
04-06.11.2014
Qioptiq at VISION 2014
Hall 1 | Booth H 66
New Mini Camera Tubes
Expanding the range of the Optem FUSION lens system
The Optem FUSION lens system delivers
extreme imaging versatility for OEMs,
researchers and system integrators who
require precise micro-imaging. The new
Mini Camera Tubes for the Optem
FUSION Lens System reduce assembly
lengths and streamline OEM system
integration. The modular design lets you
configure modifications of performance,
function and form.
Simple change-out of modules defines
a wide range of performance envelopes for 7:1 or 12.5:1 zoom imaging.
Or replace the zoom module with a
fixed-aperture module to configure a
wide range of economical fixed-magnification lenses.
sion imaging and Mini Camera Tubes are
compatible with the full array of FUSION
camera mounts to accept C, CS, F, EOS,
4/3 and other camera mount types. All
Mini Tubes are internally focusable VIA
an adjustable inner cell for easier parfocality calibration and system setup.
Optem FUSION lens system options
include integrated LED illumination,
internal fine focus, manual or motorized
zoom and/or focus, and a wide range of
accessories. It is ideal for use in optical
metrology, wafer processing, machine
vision, materials analysis, crystal monitoring, well plate scanning and more.
When
Flexibility
matters,
FUSION
fect
is the per
Match!
Optem FUSION Mini Tubes are available
in 0.8x, 1.0x, 1.5x, 2.0x, 2.5x and 3.0x
magnifications and optimize sensor coverage for camera formats up to 43 mm
diagonal. The auxiliary magnification can
be used for smaller camera formats.
Mini Tubes are 60% shorter than their
standard-length FUSION Camera Tube
counterparts for easier integration in
space-constrained systems. Superior
optics design ensures near-zero for preci-
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
10
Solutions Worldwide.
Close to you.
The time-tested Rodagon lenses:
Now, in full-metal housing with iris aperture!
Rodagon lenses from Qioptiq are one of the few constants the
Machine Vision industry can rely on.
Available for many decades in constant
and widely appreciated quality, these
lenses serve as the optical solution for
a multitude of applications. Although
the Rodagon lenses – including Apo
Rodagon D, Apo Rodagon N and Rogonar-S – feature high-quality construction
with a click-stop iris, we have received
customer requests for a full-metal version with lockable iris aperture. Now we
have brought together the suggestions
we’ve received and developed a new
mount, which will soon be introduced
for all focal lengths. Your gain: The new
full-metal models guarantee even more
stable mounting! The new lockable
aperture with clamping screws prevents
inadvertent changes in the aperture
adjustment. The following variants are
already available with the new mount:
• Rodagon 35, 60, 80 und 105
• Apo Rodagon 105
• Rogonar-S75
One by one, all other focal lengths will
made available with this feature as well.
We will also continue to produce the
familiar versions with click-stop aperture
and plastic housing. The new mounting
has also made a smaller outer diameter
possible! All in all, the new compact
design is ideal for applications setup
under tight space restrictions. Like the
earlier models, the new lenses also have
the Leica mounting threads, for continued compatibility with all mechanical
accessories.
The inspec.x L lens series
Highest resolution for large sensors of up to 82 mm diagonal
The inspec.x L
lens series was developed to meet the most
stringent requirements in the
field of industrial image processing.
This series offers excellent optical
performance over an image diameter of up to 82 mm. This is achieved
thanks to the diffraction-limited
optical design as well as the patented mounting technology from
Qioptiq. The V-nut interface makes
it possible to adjust the lenses to
the best azimuth, thus ensuring
the optimum image quality. For
larger-scale applications, they are
sometimes used in retro-position.
The various lenses in the inspec.x L
series cover the image scale range
from infinity to 5x magnification.
Lenses for magnifications of 3x to 5x
can optionally be combined with the
inspec.x L prism module for coaxial illumination in line applications with diffraction-limited imaging performance.
The new inspec.x L 5.6/105 float lens,
moreover, covers the broad range from
-0.3 to -3.0-fold in a single lens. This
opens the door to applications that
require high imaging performance for
different object resolutions with only
one camera. The consistent imaging
performance over the entire field is
achieved thanks to a floating element
which, like the aperture, can be
adjusted using gear wheels.
One of the major areas of application for the inspec.x L series is the
inspection of displays. In fact, in one
of the many inspection procedures
that your own smartphone underwent during production, its display
may well have been checked using
a Qioptiq lens. The higher the quality of the display, the more likely
it is that optics from Qioptiq were
involved in production control.
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
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Qioptiq
Diezehal,
Booth 95
VELDHOVEN
12.-13.11.2014
Qioptiq at Precision Fair
Diezehal | Booth 95
Precision Fair 2014 in Veldhoven:
Welcome to the Qioptiq booth!
The Precision Fair for high-precision and
ultra-high precision technology will be
held on November 12 and 13, 2014,
for the fourteenth time in Veldhoven,
The Netherlands. Here in the high-tech
heart of the country, where OEM companies such as Philips, ASML and FEI are
located, some 275 suppliers of systems
and components, as well as engineering companies, research institutes and
universities from the high-tech system
industry will be exhibiting.
The products and services presented
will range from precision mechanics to
micro- and nanotechnology. With growing numbers of both exhibitors and visitors, this trade show has grown in recent
years to become a unique international
platform for exchange between companies in the high-tech and ultrahigh-tech
fields.
In addition to opportunities for networking, attendance at the fair includes free
Viktoria Baumgardt and Dr. Ramin Sattari.
admission to an international conference
with twelve main speakers and 36 talks.
The "Meet & Match" forum, moreover,
provides space for one-on-one meetings
to link up with new contacts and share
ideas.
Qioptiq has proven itself time and again
as a powerful partner in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries. For
25 years now we have been developing
leading technology and high-tech solutions for manufacturers of semiconductor equipment. As the structures in integrated circuits get smaller and smaller,
the demands on the development and
production of the modules and systems
used in IC manufacturing become more
stringent all the time. Qioptiq can meet
these requirements.
From system design and prototype
manufacture to serial production, we
design and develop optical components,
modules and systems for machines
and instruments used in semiconductor lithography, wafer inspection, chip
bonding and chip packaging. One of
the pillars of this business area are our
recently expanded Class 1000 cleanroom production facilities in Göttingen.
One of the highlights at the Qioptiq
booth is the mag.x system 125 high-resolution inspection system. With its
ability to transmit large object fields in
high quality at low overall magnifications, it stands out against conventional
LD inspection systems. This modular,
Assembly at Qioptiq in Göttingen,
Germany in the Class 1000 cleanroom.
high-performance inspection system has
been expanded by the addition of integrated autofocus components. The new
AF base unit and the piezo-module can
now be used to create an automated
microscope system with through-thelens autofocus. See page 8 for more
details.
Don't miss our talk on this topic!
Thomas Schäffler, director of our Vision
Technology business segment, will be
giving a talk at the forum on Wednesday, November, 12, entitled "Autofocus
Systems in Machine Vision."
We look forward meeting you on the
Qioptiq Booth!
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
12
NEW
Qioptiq Q-Sets give you complete,
tested assemblies for your setup
Q-Sets – How to save time in the lab
Has this ever happened to you? You order some new components, you are lookling forward to adding them
to your optical setup, at last they arrive and all you need to do is mount them – but then, in the process of
putting the new assembly together, you discover that something is missing – something you didn't realize
you would need when you placed the order! So you have to place another order, and wait again for delivery.
In deciding what assemblies to make
available as sets, we are guided by you:
our customers. If there is no complete
solution available for your particular
needs – no problem! We are constantly
designing new sets for a variety of applications. Simply contact our catalog
team at +49 (0)551/ 69 350. We look
forward to getting your suggestions and
taking up your challenges!
All Q-Sets are thoroughly tested at
Qioptiq. That is how we ensure they
deliver the same high quality you get in
all of our products.
Each set is generally optimized for use
with a wide range of wavelengths, to
ensure broad compatibility. Because we
use components from the LINOS catalog,
you know these sets combine highest
precision with extensive applicability, as
well as flexible handling – the components in a Q-Set can be used either in
the combination provided, or individually.
Q-Set Height Adjustment.
To spare you the frustration and the
waste of time, we now offer complete
segments for all of the most commonly
used structures: Q-Sets! A Q-Set is a set
of components from the LINOS catalog
which, when assembled, comprises a finished subassembly for a specific require-
ment. This saves you time right from
the start, because you no longer have
to search the catalog yourself for each
individual component required for your
optical or optomechanical system. And
easy assembly is guaranteed!
You will find the new Q-Sets under "New
Products" in the Q-Shop, as well on the
optomechanics homepage, along with
complete lists of all component specifications. In the online Q-Shop, you can
request a quote or place an order directly.
All Q-Sets are available for rapid delivery.
Q-Set Height Adjustment
The Height Adjustment Q-Set, availble
starting August 2014, is designed for
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
NEW
Q-Set Variable Attenuator/Splitter.
compensation of differences in beam
height from 20 to 180 mm, as well as
for beam deflection.
Thanks to the low profile of the lower
beam deflector cube, the system can
easily be adapted to the LINOS Microbench beam height. This means you can
use the set to integrate a Microbench
system into a setup with a different
beam height, or vice versa. The maximum beam height can be extended by
adding columns.
The mirrors have a high-quality silver
coating with a reflectivity of more than
96% in the spectral range of 500 nm
to 12 µm, so they are suitable for applications with broadband light sources or
for use with femtosecond laser pulses.
The exceptional stability of the setup is
ensured by a surface-hardened column
with a special diffuse-reflecting surface.
The mirror mount has decoupled adjustment axes for fast and precise adjustments.
Overview of the outstanding attributes
of the Height Adjustment Set:
• High stability thanks to the hardened
column
• Even reflection with no absorption
bands
• Suitable for lasers with very short (fs)
pulses
• Reflectivity guaranteed (0 ≤ AOI ≤ 60°,
non-polarized) > 96% in the 500 nm
≤ λ ≤ 780 nm range, and > 97% in the
780 nm ≤ λ ≤ 10 µm range
• Damage threshold H > 1.5 J/cm2 for
11 ns laser pulses (s-on-1) at 1064 nm
and 10 Hz
Q-Set Variable Attenuator/Splitter
As a variabler attenuator, this set is ideal
for continuous adjustment of the laser
output in a system. It can also be used
as a beam splitter, for continuous splitting of the power output between two
orthogonal beam paths.
The height of the set is compatible for
use with LINOS Microbench components. The set can also be mounted
either on support rods or directly onto
an optical table.
Qioptiq offers sets for wavelengths of
488, 532, 633 and 780 nm. Each set is
optimized for its particular wavelength,
and has an aperture of 9 mm. The
retarders (waveplates) are zero-order,
and thus offer better tolerances for
wavelength, temperature and angle of
Dr. Jörg Kohl-Landgraf and Olaf Meyer discuss
the design of the new Q-Set High Adjustment.
incidence than higher order retarders.
Furthermore, they each have an antireflective coating for the respective
central wavelengths, and the beamsplitter cubes have broadband antireflective coatings.
Q-Set Variable Attenuator/Splitter: application example.
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
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14
Innovas
The Fraunhofer Application Center for
Plasma and Photonics
Laser Plasma Hybrid Processes
in Optical Technologies
With the foundation of the Application Center for Plasma and Photonics in June 2012, the Fraunhofer society
has joined the major players in research of the university town of Göttingen, Germany. The Application Center is operated jointly by the Göttingen HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Fraunhofer
Institute for Surfaces Engineering and Thin films (IST) in Braunschweig, and did recently celebrate the grand
opening of a brand-new building. The center’s research activities are focused on the development of laser
and plasma technologies.
"One has to do something new in order
to see something new" – these words of
18th century scientist Georg Lichtenberg
were a fitting citation in a speech given
at the opening ceremonies for the new
research facility of the HAWK University.
The event was held on June 3, 2014 with
more than 300 invited guests in attendance. The new building is home to the
research team of the Fraunhofer Application Center for Plasma and Photonics
(APP), which does not only pioneer as
one of the first application centers run
by a Fraunhofer institute in close cooperation with a university, but also in the
research fields of plasma technology.
The team develops plasma technologies
as a key for improvements and innovations for small and medium-sized enterprises, science and industry as well as
everyday uses.
The Application Center for
Plasma and Photonics
The new Application Centers are being
established in Germany to support the
Fraunhofer Society and the cooperating
universities by combining the researcher’s know-how, the facilities local and
regional integration and, a practical
orientation with strong links to industry
in an extensive network of scientists for
high-level research.
The fields of expertise at the IST on the
one hand and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology at the HAWK on
the other complement one another well:
Not only are both instiutes specialized
in plasma R&D, they also have worked
together already in other projects, such
as the Innovation Network Plasma
Technology in Lower Saxony (NIP). The
new center is led by HAWK vice president Professor Wolfgang Viöl and prof-
The co-founders of the Application Center: (l. to r.:) Ursula Haufe, Prof. Günter Bräuer, Prof. Christiane Dienel, Prof. Wolfgang Viöl, Dr. Alexander Kurz.
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
Innovas
Laser-plasma hybrid ablation of heavy flint glass.
its from his HAWK working group for
Laser and Plasma Technology. Their 20
years of experience and successes in
basic research and plasma technology
development builds a solid foundation
for the Application Centers, main focus
on plasma medicine and laser-plasma
hybrid technology.
In turn, the Application Center is also
a source of new opportunities for the
HAWK University: The new building
(€ 3.75 million) has to be mentioned
here, since it has vastly improved working conditions for researchers with its
1,500 m2 square feet of space for laboratories and offices on three floors.
The Application Center defines itself as
a research and development partner
Adjustment of a laser-plasma hybrid set-up.
for customer-specific solutions under
third-party funding or independent contracting. The APP's research partners –
its customers in science and industry –
benefit from the core areas including:
• Analytics and diagnostics
• Custom-made plasma sources and
installations
• Engineering of functional coatings and
films
• Surface modifications on wood and
wood-based materials
• Biological sciences and plasma
medicine
• Sensor systems
• Laser technology, and Laser plasma
hybrid technology.
•
Laser-plasma hybrid technology
as a key field
One of the main application areas for
the laser plasma hybrid techniques
examined at the Application Center is
the field of optical technologies (see also
the Optolines OPTATEC Special 2012 [1]).
These techniques are based on the combination of atmospheric-pressure plasmas with laser radiation, creating synergies that bring out significant advances
in production process steps, such as
surface modification, cleaning and
microstructuring. Laser plasma hybrid
processing is a young research field of
the Applied Laser Technologies – in fact,
the first papers on this subject were
published as recently as 2012. The main
focus of research activities here is on the
processing of optical media; most of the
New building in the Zietenterrassen quarter in
Göttingen.
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optics and opto-mechanical components
deployed in implementing experimental
structures at the Application Center are
supplied by Qioptiq. With sequential and
simultaneous hybrid processing, two different approaches are being studied in
the moment.
In sequential hybrid processing, a targeted plasma treatment with suitable
process gases enables the modification
of the chemical properties, and thus
also the optical properties, of a near-surface barrier layer within the particular
medium [2]. This increases the absorption, which in turn significantly improves
the energy injection of incident laser
radiation, with the result that the laser
energy density required for ablation
is reduced by up to 4.6-fold. At lower
energy densities, thermal effects on the
material are radically decreased as well,
so that – in addition to the curtailment
laser energy consumption – ablation
results are markedly improved (for example, thanks to reduced surface roughness of the ablated area, prevention of
micro-fissures and better contour accuracy). This technique has already been
successfully applied on fused silica [3],
optical heavy flintglass [4] and photovoltaic cover glass [5].
In simultaneous hybrid processing,
chemically inert plasmas and laser radiation are applied to the material surface
at the same time, allowing it to double
the laser ablation rate or halve the processing time in microstructuring of optical heavy flintglass and crown glasses [6].
Furthermore, it has been shown that the
plasmas used for this purpose are suit-
able for refining and smoothing optically
polished surfaces [7].
In comparison to lasers, plasma sources
exhibit a considerably higher degree of
efficiency. The combination of the two
methods in the scope of laser plasma
hybrid technology thus leads not only to
better processing results, but also to the
creation of energy-efficient alternatives
for existing manufacturing processes –
from micro structuring of optical components, such as lens arrays or gratings, to
the implementation of security features
for protection against product piracy, to
the finishing of pre-fabricated elements,
to name just a few examples.
References
[1] C. Gerhard, W. Viöl: Laser-assisted micromaterials processing: Laser-plasma ablation of optical glasses, Optolines OPTATEC
Special (2012) 31-33
[2] C. Gerhard, D. Tasche, S. Brückner, S.
Wieneke, W. Viöl: Near-surface modification of optical properties of fused silica
by low-temperature hydrogenous atmospheric pressure plasma, Optics Letters 37
(2012) 566-568
[3] S. Brückner, J. Hoffmeister, J. Ihlemann,
C. Gerhard, S. Wieneke, W. Viöl: Hybrid
laser-plasma micro-structuring of fused
silica based on surface reduction by a
low-temperature atmospheric pressure
plasma, Journal of Laser Micro/Nanoengineering 7 (2012) 73-76
[4] C. Gerhard, J. Heine, S. Brückner, S.
Wieneke W. Viöl: A hybrid laser-plasma
ablation method for improved nanosecond laser machining of heavy flint glass,
Lasers in Engineering 24 (2013) 391-403
[5] C. Gerhard, M. Dammann, S. Wieneke,
W. Viöl: Sequential atmospheric pressure
plas-ma-assisted laser ablation of photovoltaic cover glass for improved contour
accuracy, Micromachines 5 (2014) 408419
[6] C. Gerhard, S. Roux, S. Brückner, S. Wieneke,
W. Viöl: Low-temperature atmospheric
pressure argon plasma treatment and
hybrid laser-plasma ablation of barite
crown and heavy flint glass, Applied
Optics 51 (2012) 3847-3852
[7] C. Gerhard, T. Weihs, A. Luca, S. Wieneke,
W. Viöl: Polishing of optical media by
dielectric barrier discharge inert gas
plasma at atmospheric pressure, Journal
of the European Optical Society - Rapid
Publications 8 (2013) 13081 (5 pp)
Acknowledgements
The Fraunhofer Application Center for
Plasma and Photonics receives funding
from the German federal state of Lower
Saxony ("Niedersächsisches Vorab") and
the Volkswagen Foundation ("VolkswagenStiftung").
Authors
Ronja Grünke has been working in the
innovation management of the Innovation Network Plasma Technology in
Lower Saxony (NIP) for the past four
years, and also assists in public relations
for the HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Since November 2012,
she has also been engaged in public
relations and organization for the Fraunhofer Application Center for Plasma and
Photonics in Göttingen, Germany.
Christoph Gerhard, M.Sc. Dipl.-Ing. (FH)
studied precision processing technology
and optical engineering/photonics in
Göttingen, Paris and Bremen. Today he
is a lecturer and scientific coordinator
at the HAWK University, and a research
associate at the Fraunhofer Application
Center for Plasma and Photonics in
Göttingen, Germany.
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Thin-film coatings at Qioptiq
The LINOS coatings
Ion source for ion vapor deposition (sputter)
coating.
Part 2: Single-layer and Multilayer Coatings
Laser mirror, filter, beam splitter and anti-reflective coatings – the range of coatings available from Qioptiq
is extensive, and can meet even the most complex requirements. If a customer cannot find the right coating
for a particular application among our standard selection, our experts are on hand to provide all the support
needed in developing a customized coating. The technologies involved are used in laser and high performance optics, precision optics, polarization optics and in measurement technology and environmental testing: This is the second part of a three-part Optolines series introducing the world of thin-film optics.
Single-layer coatings
To calculate the effects of a single-layer
coating on a substrate on the intensity
of a reflected beam, the refractive- and
angle-dependent intensity of all light
waves must be taken into account in
accordance with the Fresnel equations
(Fig. 4).
With a single-layer coating, maximum
reduction of reflection is achieved for
a given wavelength when one beam
reflected from boundary surface A (I1)
and another reflected from boundary
surface B (I2) interfere destructively at
equal intensity. The Fresnel equations
show that the intensity of these beams is
constant when the amplitude condition
is met:
Relation of refractive indices
for minimal reflection from a
single layer on a substrate
In this case (n0<n1<n2 or n0>n1>n2) the
phase jump at both boundary surfaces
A and B is either π or 0. The condition
for destructive interference is the superimposition of maximum and minimum
amplitudes. This condition is met when
the optical thickness is a whole-number
multiple of one-quarter of a wavelength
(with the simplification of vertical incidence):
i: imaginary number
d: layer thickness
In the event that n0>n1<n2 or n0<n1<n2,
however, a coating of this thickness
increases the reflection. In that case, a
phase jump of π with the reflection on
either the front or back of the film is
added to the path-length-dependent
phase shift, resulting in constructive
interference.
Multilayer coatings
When multiple thin films are applied,
the reflection-reducing and reflection-increasing effects of each coating can be
combined. In simulation of these effects,
it is important to take the interference
of the multiple reflections within the
film stack into account. The tangential
field components of the electromagnetic
waves E and H of two adjacent boundary surfaces with indices m and m+1 are
combined in what is called the characteristic matrix:
The equation above designates the optical admittance, which is the proportionality factor between tangential components E and H (H=ηE). The phase factor
δm is calculated with the propagation
angle αm within the film:
Coating thicknesses for which the optical layer thickness equals one-quarter
or one-half of the wavelength, however,
are a special case: The simplification of
vertical light incidence (αm = 0) yields the
following for the characteristic matrices:
for nm . dm = λ/4
for nm . dm = λ/2
For a single-layer coating, the reflection
of an n/4-coating is maximized for the
given wavelength when the quotient
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Refractive index
Substrate
Fig. 4: The intensity le of the incident light wave splits into reflected light waves l1 to ln.
A closer look
If the light incident on the film stack
has a high energy density, absorption
may result in destruction of the film
stack.
of the refractive index of coating and
substrate is greater than one (>1). If, on
the other hand, the quotient is less than
one (<1), the coating will have a reflection-reducing effect.
In the latter case, the light intensities of
the given wavelength equalize at the
entry and exit points of the coating. Aside
from a phase jump of π due to the negative sign of the unit matrix, the reflection
with the coating matches the reflection
of the same substrate uncoated. Within
a thin-film system, too, the λ/2-coatings
appear to have no effect.
By multiplying the characteristic matrices
of the N single-layer coatings, the field
strengths at the entry (E0, H0) and exit
points (ES, HS) of a coating system can
be combined:
Thus the optical properties of a film stack
can be calculated using these matrix
formalisms. This in turn enables simulation of the effects of film stacks with
complex functions, such as broadband
anti-reflection or longpass, shortpass or
bandpass filtering.
Summary
The various functions of optical thin film
systems are based on the interference of
light waves. Thus the choice of coating
material and thickness can influence the
transmitted or reflected intensity of the
wavelength or wavelength range.
The following criteria are required for
calculation of the desired properties of
optical thin coatings:
1. Wavelength or wavelength range
and target values for transmission or
reflection
2. Angle of incidence
3. Substrate to which the coating will be
applied
4. Polarization properties
5. Energy density of the incoming light
and other environmental requirements
To avoid undue complication in designing a film stack, the specifications should
be formulated as broadly as possible,
and yet as narrowly as needed to fulfill
the desired functions.
The choice of technology to be used for
creating a given thin film coating or film
stack depends on what is required from
the coating system, as well as on the
complexity of the specifications.
The available technologies range from
thermal or electron beam evaporation
to sophisticated plasma-assisted electron beam evaporation, to the latest ion
beam deposition methods which are
used to implement the most complex
coating designs. Even the most precisely manufactured coating, however,
is only as good as the optics to which
it is applied. That is why all optics are
cleansed in a state-of-the-art ultrasonic
cleaning station, followed by visual
inspection, prior to the application of
any coating. At all stages of the process,
from coating design to cleaning and
visual inspection to the application of
thin films and the final inspection, Qioptiq has the advantage of more than 40
years of experience in the manufacture
of optical coatings.
Technology
For the creation of thin film designs,
the coating developers at Qioptiq have
numerous state-of-the-art computer
programs available which calculate the
optical properties of coating systems
based on the described formalisms.
Precise knowledge of the dispersion
data (refractive index, absorption) of
the coating and substrate materials,
together with a thorough understanding
of all available coating technologies, are
essential for the creation of producible
and reproducible designs.
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The Coating Center in Göttingen
Major role to fulfill the most of
challenging requirements
High performance optical systems as well as complex plano optical components not only require the technical
infrastructure for realization but also skilled engineers with the necessary expertise to implement the latest
results of research and development. The Coating Center in Göttingen plays a major role to fulfill the most
challenging requirements of our customers. Thus, we possess state-of-the-art coating technology like ion
beam sputtering (IBS) and we also maintain a close cooperation with research institutes like the Fraunhofer
IOF in Jena or the Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH).
Most of the customer requirements not
only contain optical specifications but
also specifications regarding the reflected
or transmitted wave front deformation.
Consequently, the coated optical component has to meet a defined surface
shape within close tolerances. The main
drawback of sputtering technology is
the high compressive thin film stress of
the deposited coatings. This could have
an enormous impact on the shape of the
surface after deposition and make back
side stress compensation coatings necessary. However, using back side coatings
just for stress compensation is inefficient
due to the double process time. In some
cases it is not even possible to realize a
suitable back side coating because of
complex substrate geometry. Therefore,
alternative methods for stress reduction
after the deposition have to be investigated.
The results of this investigation were
published at the latest Optical Interference Coatings Conference (OIC) which
took place last year in Whistler (British Columbia, Canada). The OIC is the
world's premier meeting for global technical interchange in the field of optical
interference coatings and takes place
every 3 years.
The presentation with the headline
“Post-deposition treatment of IBS coatings for UV applications” was one of the
Our operator Thomas Meyer during preparation of our IBS machine.
contributions with very high resonance
in the coating community and it demonstrated to us that our research results
currently are on the front line of the
technical feasibility.
Motivation:
High precision optical systems and
components e.g. for laser or inspection
applications require optical coatings
with minimal optical losses due to scattering and absorption. Consequently, it
is necessary to choose the coating materials as well as the deposition technology
very carefully. Due to limitations regarding interface roughness, scattering and
absorption losses in multilayer coatings,
as well as the limited feasibility of realizing complex coating designs, the IBS
technology exceeds the conventional
deposition methods in many ways. This
deposition method guarantees optical
coatings with smooth interfaces and
significantly lower scattering losses
compared to PIAD (plasma-ion assisted
deposition).
However, these advantages come along
with a considerable drawback – thin film
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using IBS technology and post-deposition thermal treatment. The mechanical
and optical properties were examined
and discussed.
Our IBS machine in detail with the primary source (middle), the target (bottom), and the calotte with
the substrates (top).
stress. Consequently, the substrate deformation after the IBS coating process is
clearly higher than for other deposition
processes. As mentioned before, a back
side coating for stress compensation is
not only time consuming, but could also
be very difficult or even impossible to
apply. Therefore, alternative methods
for stress reduction after the deposition have to be investigated. As known
from other processes, a post-deposition
annealing process is capable of reducing
thin film stress considerably. But more
important than a simple stress reduction is a controlled annealing process
by adjusting the process parameters to
achieve a desired thin film stress.
absorption losses and low thin film stress
can be realised. In this study, single layers of Silicondioxide (SiO2) and Hafniumdioxide (HfO2) as well as high reflection
and filter coatings were prepared by
Due to the optimization of the deposition parameters as well as the postdeposition treatment, coatings with low
Fig. 1: IBS machine “Navigator 1000” from CEC
with ion source (1), target (2), neutralizer (3),
assist source (covered, 4), calotte holder (5).
Experiment:
SiO2 and HfO2 single layers and multilayer coatings were fabricated in an
IBS coating machine “Navigator 1000”
from Cutting Edge Coating GmbH
(CEC). A view inside is shown in fig. 1.
The target materials were Silicon (Si) and
HfO2 respectively, whereas the material
was sputtered with Xenon as process
gas. A high oxygen flow up to 150 sccm
was necessary for realization of stoichiometric SiO2 thin films by oxidation of
the sputtered Silicon, whereas a small
oxygen flow of < 5 sccm was used for
HfO2 to minimize stoichiometric defects.
The deposition was controlled by an
UV/VIS broad band monitoring system
from Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH).
The post-deposition treatment was performed by annealing with temperatures
between 300°C and 500°C.
Results:
In order to realize demanding and
complex UV multilayer coatings with
optimized mechanical and optical properties, the properties of HfO2 and SiO2
single layers have to be evaluated after
deposition (as-deposited) and after a
post-deposition annealing process. The
as-deposited thin films still show moderate absorption in the DUV spectral range
that can further be reduced by a subsequent annealing step. But the success
of the annealing process also depends
on the correct choice of the deposition
parameters.
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We figured out, that the HfO2 single
layer is mainly amorphous, whereas
the annealed layer could have a strong
tendency to polycrystalline film structure which is also correlated with higher
absorption losses in the UV spectral
range, depending on the deposition
parameters. However, it is important
to note that in contrast to the as-deposited thin film the absorption losses
of the annealed single layer are lower
in the DUV spectral range. Due to the
polycrystalline film structure, scattering
losses in the UV spectral range can occur,
which are superposed with the expected
absorption losses in the DUV spectral
range.
The modification of the thin film microstructure of the HfO2 single layers due
to annealing is furthermore connected
with a change of the thin film stress. The
as-deposited single layers show (in comparison to results from PIAD measurements) high compressive stress, whereas
the annealed HfO2 films have very high
tensile stress. Furthermore, a temperature dependency of the final stress of
the annealed HfO2 single layers can be
observed. The temperature dependency
of the final thin film stress as well as the
knowledge for the optimal deposition
parameter set of HfO2 in order to realize UV coatings with low optical losses
give us the proper process conditions for
the realization of demanding and complex UV multilayer coatings. In contrast
to the thin film stress characteristics of
HfO2, the SiO2 single layers are still compressive after the annealing process.
Fig 2.: Surface mapping of a HfO2/SiO2 multilayer coating on fused silica after deposition (as-deposited; left) and after post-deposition treatment with optimized process parameters (right).
Fig 3.: Spectral photometry measurements of UV broad band dielectric mirror (left) and UV short pass
filter (right).
Finally after the post-deposition treatment, multilayer designs deposited with
optimized deposition parameters show
after the post-deposition treatment not
only a significant improvement of their
optical performance, but also a considerably low thin film stress. Based on the
results from the single layers, the final
stress of a multilayer coating deposited on fused silica depends on (1) the
coating design that means the relation
of the total thickness of SiO2 and HfO2,
(2) the deposition parameters, and (3)
the annealing temperature. Thus, it is
possible to obtain zero stress or even to
adjust the final thin film stress to compensate small spherical deviations of an
uncoated substrate from its target profile. The deviation of the surface shape
from an ideal plane surface is shown
in fig. 2 after deposition (left) and after
annealing (right).
For demonstration, we characterized a
broad band mirror and a short pass filter
for the UV-DUV spectral range before
and after the post-deposition treatment.
The high reflection coating can then be
specified with an average reflection of
Rav > 99% in a spectral range of 230-
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Coating experts in front of our IBS machine (fltr): Dr. Martin Bischoff (manager coating design & process engineering), Karen Köhler (process engineering),
and Thomas Meyer (IBS operator).
400 nm for angles of incidence between
0° and 45° (average polarisation) The
short pass filter has a transmission range
between 230 nm and 330 nm with an
average transmission of Tav > 97% for
perpendicular incidence of light. The
measurements before and after the
annealing process are presented in
fig. 3. The final thin film stress of both
multilayer designs after the post-deposition treatment was optimized to be
zero. Therefore, the surface flatness of
the coated plano optics can be specified
with λ/10, identical to the chosen substrate quality.
Outlook:
Our next task is to transfer the latest
research results to a stable process for
serial production. In doing so, some
questions have to be answered in detail,
for example: “What is the influence of
the coating design, as well as the substrate geometry and material, or a variation of process parameters on the final
shape of the coated substrate after the
annealing process?”.
adjust the surface shape deviation after
the deposition in a con-trolled process
would enable us a new dimension and
accuracy of optical system properties.
The application possibilities of these
results for complex optical components are tremendous. The feasibility to
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
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Qioptiq in Aßlar
Big in Micro-optics
There are not many optics manufacturers that could fit an entire day's production output into a carton the
size of a shoe box. The Qioptiq location in Aßlar is one of them. High-precision lenses, some with diameters
of less than one millimeter, are made here and shipped to customers throughout the world.
izes. The location in Aßlar has been a part
of the Qioptiq group since 2005, and
both have belonged to Excelitas Technologies since 2013. The expertise in optics
seen at Aßlar, however, goes back much
further. Neeb-Optik GmbH was founded
in 1952 in Wetzlar-Naunheim, Germany,
and later relocated to Aßlar. Since then,
they have been expanding the development, calculation and manufacture of
optical systems and system technologies
at the Aßlar site, which now employs
more than 70 skilled optical experts.
Finishing of rod lenses for endoscopy.
It takes a good eye, a steady hand and
the finest of precision tools to manufacture the tiny video camera lenses known
in the industry as "chip-on-the-tip" –
notwithstanding their miniscule size,
they deliver very high resolution. Qioptiq
GmbH has developed just such a lens for
a microcamera made by a partner company abroad. The camera, called IntroSpicio™ 120, features a tiny C-MOS sensor
and the special Qioptiq objective: a fivepart system of lenses with an integrated
infrared-blocking filter and a lithographic
aperture. The entire device is just half a
centimeter long, with an outer diameter
of 1.2 millimeters. This "smallest camera
in the world," as its manufacturer calls
it, is deployed in flexible endoscopes.
With this unique technology the user
can transfer high-quality video images of
internal organs, and even take a journey –
via camera – through the vasculature and
into the heart. Qioptiq and its partner
companies are currently working on the
next generation of these cameras, which
will measure just 0.99 millimeters around.
Optical expertise at the Aßlar site
Thanks to increasingly powerful technologies installed in the tiniest of devices,
the field of clinical diagnostics is moving
into dimensions that would have been
inconceivable just a few years ago. The
advances are due in large part to chip
technology, but developments in optics
have also played an important role. And
this is precisely the area in which the
microoptics division of Qioptiq special-
Leading manufacturer of high quality microoptics
The production site in Aßlar, a specialist in precision lenses that recently
celebrated its 60th anniversary, owes
its long-term success to the continuous development of its own particular
expertise, says managing director Ingo
Gretschel: "That which characterized us
from the very beginning – our position
as one of the leading manufacturers of
high-quality microoptics – is something
we have maintained since becoming
part of the global Qioptiq group as well."
What he means by this becomes apparent in a tour of the production facilities,
as spherical lenses and plano-optics in
ultra-compact dimensions are sanded,
polished, coated and cemented. The
smallest lenses that currently can be
made here have a diameter of just
0.3 millimeters.
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Specializing in "chip-on-the-tip"
On the mechanical level, the production
of such microoptics requires highly specialized precision tools that are precisely
adjusted to one another. After the lenses
have been coated, Qioptiq's specialists
carry out the final quality control step
entirely under a microscope. "We put
our many years of experience and our
extensive knowledge to work. Both are
decisive not only in production, but also
in the development of new optical solutions," Gretschel points out. And the
development of optics for use in endoscopic instruments is a prime example.
Qioptiq has been involved in developing
"chip-on-the-tip" technology for some
ten years now. The main goals of development can be stated in a very short list:
• more compact
• more powerful
• more precise
Outstanding HD lenses
To demonstrate the dimensions of the
product specifications required to deliver
these features, the experts at Qioptiq
Compact lenses from Aßlar for endoscopy (Michael Reinl).
GmbH use a flexible endoscope of the
type used primarily in clinical diagnostics,
as well as in measurement technology.
An endoscope is basically a length of
flexible tubing through which images are
transferred electronically. The camera,
mounted on the distal end, is an assembly made up of a printed circuit board,
a sensor (C-MOS or CCD) and the lens.
The image is displayed on a monitor. Due
to the compact size of the image sensors
(under 1/6"), which deliver HD resolution
(1920 x 1080 pixels), each pixel is only
1 µm – 2 µm (0.001 mm – 0.002 mm) in
size. For these assemblies, Qioptiq develops and manufactures various HD lenses
that supply razor-sharp images. It is not
surprising that customer response has
been entirely positive, considering the
resolution of these HD lenses has been
rated from "well above average" to
"excellent" by leading scientific institutes
and research facilities for endoscopy.
3D systems for metrology and
medical engineering
The popularity of 3D technology today
is widespread not only in the entertainment and communications industries,
but also in measurement technology
and medical engineering. The measurement of various parts of the body – for
example, for the manufacture of crowns
and inlays in dental technology, or diagnosis of tumors for minimally invasive
surgery – relies on 3D technologies. And
Qioptiq supplies the 3D systems needed,
sometimes made in very small-batch
production. The ability to develop and
then also to manufacture pioneering
microoptical systems for practically every
conceivable application is something
Micro-assembly under the microscope.
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that the customers of Qioptiq GmbH
particularly appreciate. In cooperation
with other production sites in the group
which, like the plant in Feldkirchen, have
a high level of expertise in electronics
and integration, customers today can
be supplied with complex optoelectronic
systems for endoscopic and other medical applications. The merger with Excelitas, a US group that bought the Qioptiq
groups+ of companies in 2013, rounded
out the palette nicely. Excelitas supplies
innovative, customer-oriented solutions
that meet the requirements of OEM
clients in such business areas as illumination, detection and other high-performance technologies.
Increasing demands on precision
microoptics
The high level of customer satisfaction
has led, in turn, to increasing demand,
and the steadily expanding complexity of
optical application areas has also raised
the requirements for creating precision
optics in the micro-millimeter range. The
output of a whole day of production at
the Aßlar plant will likely continue to be
small enough to fit into a shoe box – but
there are clear indications that the company itself will soon need more space.
"We have managed to find enough
room for production in recent years on
the two floors of our company's build-
ing. Now, however, we are reaching our
limit. We want to keep growing," confides Ingo Gretschel. The prerequisites
for fulfilling this desire will be put into
place during 2015.
Ralf Niggemann,
network.de
head of www.wetzlar" Internet site
The "Wetzlar Network
ctronics and
reports on optics, ele
r region.
mechanics in the Wetzla
Christoph Skorupa: CNC-centering of small achromats.
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Qioptiq live
Busy days at the LASYS
Important optics meeting
for users in industry
The fourth meeting of the LASYS trade
show, a specialized international fair in
the field of laser materials processing,
chalked up a four percent increase in visitor numbers as the three-day event came
to a close. Some 5,500 visitors from this
field came to Stuttgart to see the latest
innovations, developments and trends in
the laser materials processing industry.
Most visitors represented the fields of
mechanical engineering, optics, or plant
and apparatus engineering. They came
from 38 countries to glean the latest
information offered by 187 exhibitors
from Germany and abroad.
The Qioptiq team were very pleased with
this year's show, and will be sure to take
part in the next LASYS, too.
The Qioptiq team at the LASYS.
Measurement Valley
The first Göttingen Metrology Symposium
Measurement technology deployed close
to the site of processing is becoming
faster, more precise, more reliable and
more flexibl. Optical metrology, moreover, is playing an increasingly large role.
The first Göttingen Metrology Symposium, organized by the Measurement
Valley association and held on July 17,
2014, offered a well-founded overview of
current and future trends in manufacturing. In addition to expert talks on various
aspects of measurement technology, the
symposium also included an exhibition
and a poster session, as well as a guided
tour of the local Fraunhofer Application
Center for Plasma and Photonics.
As a long-time member of the Measurement Valley association, Qioptiq
also presented at the exhibition, which
was well-attended and enthusiastically
received.
www.measurement-valley.de
Product Manager Dr. Jörg Kohl-Landgraf
before the exhibition began.
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
Qioptiq live
Trade show calendar for October 2014 – February 2015
Messe
Photo Plus
Vision
Electronica
Precision Fair
DANISH OPTICAL
SOCIETY Annual
Meeting
SFN
Photonics West
Stadt
New York,
USA
Stuttgart, DE
München, DE
Datum
30.10.01.11.2014
04.-06.11.2014
11.-14.11.2014
Internet
www.photoplusexpo.com/
index.shtml
www.messe-stuttgart.de/vision/
www.electronica.de/
Veldhoven, NL 12.-13.11.2014 www.precisiebeurs.nl/
intro-en-us/
Roskilde, Dk 13.-14.11.2014 www.osa.org/en-us/meetings/
global_calendar/events/the_danish_
optical_society_annual_meeting/
Washington
15.-19.11.2014 www.sfn.org/annual-meeting/neuroDC, USA
science-2014
San Francisco, 10.-12.02.2015 spie.org/photonics-west.xml
USA
Editorial staff
After a thorough examination the
new Q-Sets from Qioptiq were
declared "highly customer-oriented" by the new Optolines editorial staff – from the top: Olaf Meyer,
Martina Nussbaum, Dr. Jörg KohlLandgraf and Anke Weinreich.
"These tailored combinations of
time-tested components from the
LINOS catalog mark a new high
point in customer value!" was the
unanimous conclusion.
Contakt Editorial staff:
martina.nussbaum@qioptiq.de
Recommended
reading
Kaschke, Donnerhacke, Rill
Optical Devices in Ophthalmology and Optometry
This book provides a comprehensive
overview of the latest technological developments in ophthalmology,
together with their clinical applications. Its combination of the technological with the clinical aspects makes
this volume equally applicable in
both fields. The book contains introductions to basic physical methods
in optics and optical metrology and
their application in developing optical
systems for ophthalmological medical technology. Detailed descriptions
of medical applications illustrate the
advantages of techniques from the
field of photonics.
The clarity with which these two topics are combined and the easy-to-understand presentation make this book
particularly interesting. Each chapter
includes exercises (with solutions) to
help reinforce understanding of the
particular chapter.
Authors Kaschke, Donnerhacke and
Rill are recognized experts on the
topic of optical technologies in the
field of medical engineering, and
draw on their many years of experience in this area for this book.
ISBN: 978-3-527-41068-2
No 36 | 2014 optolines
An Excelitas Technologies Company
27
An Excelitas Technologies Company
Without detours
to success.
Axial precision
Microbench, Nanobench, Tube
System C, FLS 40 and 65, X95
Reproducible results due to
highest precision
Fast and easy set-up as well as
modification along the beam axis
High compatibility within the
axial systems
www.qioptiq.com