Introduction to Lens Design

Reference: José Sasián, Introduction to Lens Design (Cambridge University Press, 2019).

Use this reference as a route from surface geometry and ray tracing to image evaluation, optimization, tolerancing, and ghost analysis.

Read the prescription

Record curvature, separation, medium, clear aperture, decentre, and tilt for each surface. State the object conjugate, stop, field, spectrum, and detector plane separately. Distinguish an optical aperture from a blank, barrel, bevel, or mount.

Choose a starting family by inspecting symmetry, stop position, element powers, glass dispersion, and conjugate ratio.

Optimization and verification

A weighted residual objective can be expressed as

\[\Phi(\boldsymbol{x})=\sum_i w_i \left[q_i(\boldsymbol{x})-q_{i,\mathrm{target}}\right]^2.\]

Choose residual scales and weights deliberately. Include field, wavelength, and manufacturing constraints, and inspect physical metrics separately from the aggregate objective.

Check marginal rays, clearances, sensitivity to focus, manufacturing and alignment perturbations, and unwanted illumination paths.

Related documentation

• Introduction To Fundamental Lens Design

• Pupil Sampling — A Lecture on Where the Rays Go

• From CAD Geometry to an Optical Model

• Optical System Design