OPTISPHERIC | OPTOMATIC 2000 | OPTOMATIC | OPTOMATIC-MICRO

OPTOMATIC
Automatic Measuring Station
for Optical Parameters

Instant Results with Automated Optical Testing

Optomatic is the first fully automated optical test instrument featuring rapid, ultra-accurate and objective performance characterization of a wide variety of optical components and lens systems. Responding to customer requirements for increased speed and accuracy in measurement of optical parameters, Optomatic provides substantially increased overall accuracy and software control of the complete measuring procedure. The operation is simple and automatic. The measured data are accurate and repeatable. The software package provides menu-driven operator guidance and advanced data management. The measuring results can either be printed out or stored to a file.

Operation Principle

A highly corrected collimator projects the image of a special target to infinity. The parallel ray bundles enter the lens under test parallel to the optical axis and emerge from the lens as a convergent beam intersecting in the focal plane. The image of the special target which is formed in the focal plane of the lens under test is collected by a microscope assembly and focussed on the high resolution CCD array. This device is accurately located in the focal plane of the microscope.

The microscope assembly with the CCD array is mounted on a motorized linear stage driven by a step motor. The computer-controlled Auto-Focus System allows the automated and accurate finding of the focal plane of the lens under test.

Simultaneously, the size of the projected collimator target is precisely determined and thus the effective focal length of the lens under test. All aspects of the data acquisition starting with the powerful Auto-Focus System, scanning of the CCD array, self-calibration and display of the measured data are under software control and fully automated. This advanced automation allows the operator to load a new sample and start producing reliable measuring data within 2-5 seconds.

Effective Focal Length

The Effective Focal Length (EFL) can be measured for all positive lens systems with focal lengths from 1 to 800 mm. The variable magnification of the microscope assembly and specific software features allow Optomatic to automatically adapt to extremely different measuring conditions and to cover an extraordinarily wide measuring range. Virtually any existing lens systems ranging from high performance photographic lenses and microscope objectives to endoscopes, ophtalmic lenses, singlets and doublets or molded plastic lenses, can be accurately measured. An optional module expands the measuring capabilities to negative lens systems with focal lengths between -5 and -800 mm.

Flange Focal Length

Optomatic provides ideal measuring capabilities for Flange Focal Length (FFL). The Auto-Focus System which is driven by a step motor and the computer controlled data acquisition allow quick, accurate and automated serial measurements.

Since the measuring procedure is fully automated, the accuracy of 10 micron is reliable even when employing unskilled operators. For this reason, Optomatic is a very efficient tool for production and quality control. The data output provides simultaneously the values of FFL and EFL.

Angles and Power of Wedges and Prisms

The unique versatility of Optomatic is underlined by the capability to measure not only parameters of lens systems, but also angles and power of wedges and prisms. Placing a wedge between the self-contained collimator and an ancillary lens causes a displacement of the target image in the focal plane of the microscope assembly which can be measured with a resolution of better than 1 arcsec. over a range of 1 to 1.5° . The power of wedges and prisms can be simultaneously determined with an accuracy of 0.002 dpt. Adding optional modules, the angles and power of pentaprisms, roof prisms, Dove prisms, etc. can be accurately and automatically measured.

Centering Errors

The centering errors enclose tilt of lens surfaces and displacement between optical and mount axes. This results in a deviated beam passing through the lens. When rotating the lens under test, the image of the target formed on the CCD array will be displaced and automatically measured. A rotation by 90' and three measurement values are necessary to compose the total centering error. The centering errors will be displayed as axis deviation with an accuracy of 10 micron and angular deviation of the transmitted ray. An optional software module calculates the correction values to compensate for centering errors.

MTF-Measurement

Optomatic is capable to perform on-axis MTF-measurements with a spatial frequency up to 200 lines/mm. In this way, the user has a convenient option to evaluate the image quality of optical systems tested for EFL or FFL.

Fully Automatic Optical Workstation

Since Optomatic has a modular design, specific custom applications can be easily realized by adding optional modules. In this way, it is possible to meet customer requirements - as testing of endoscopes or intraocular lenses (IOL) - and to extend the measurement capabilities to other optical parameters like chromatic aberrations, depth of field, etc.

Optomatic is modular and upgradeable. This allows special configurations when test requirements change. All components of the instrument are individually calibrated. The calibration values are stored to a special file. They are automatically used to correct

the measured values. This sophisticated calibration procedure is paying off in superior performance as well as in increased repeatability. Designed as an automatic turnkey system, the

Optomatic system is not operator dependent. This feature does not only reduce measurement time to a few seconds, but also increases the accuracy and the reliability of the test. The measuring results can either be printed out or stored to a file.

New: Optomatic Micro and Optomatic Centering

Optomatic Micro is a dedicated version of the optomatic system which is designed to perform the measurement o f optical micro components. Almost all the optical parameters of lenses with diameters and focal lengths down to 2-3 mm can be automatically measured with consistent accuracy.

The new Optomatic Centering station is set up vertically and allows for accurate measurement of centering errors in transmission and reflection with a resolution of better than 1 micron. Other optical parameters can be simultaneously measured.

Technical Specification

Step motor driven stage

• Stage travel: 1000 mm
• Accuracy: 10 micron
• Step motor controller
• Measuring head consisting of

  • High resolution CCD
  • Imaging micro-optics with 4 magnifications

• Target generator with collimating optics
• Fiber optic illumination
• Self centering optic mount
• Mount for camera lenses
• Image processing card for IBM-compatible PC
• Software package on disk

Features

• Fully automatic and computer controlled measuring process
• Menu driven software
• Software modules for focal length, flange focal length, centering errors, angle and power of edges and prisms, MTF

Technical Data - Focal length and flange focal length (EFL/FFL)

• Measuring range: 5 to 800 mm
• Lens diameter: 5 to 100 mm
• Accuracy:

+5...+25 mm 0.1 % 0.3 %
+25...+500 mm 0.03 % 0.1 %
+500...+800 mm 0.05 % 0.1 %

• Measurement time:
  First measurement: 3-5 sec.
  Next measurements: 2-3 sec.
• Option for lens diameter and focal length between 1 and 5 mm
• Option for larger focal lengths up to 1200 mm
• Accuracy: 0.1 %

Wedge and prism measurement

Angle

• Measuring range: approx. 1°
• Accuracy: 1 arcsec.

Optical effect (Power)

• Accuracy: ±0.002 dpt.

Centring

• Measurement in transmission and reflection
• Resolution: 1 micron

MTF-Measurement

• Test mode: automatic, on-axis
• Spatial Frequency: 0-200 lp/mm
• Lens diameter: 5-100 mm
• Accuracy: 3 %
• Repeatability: <1 %
• Output: Screen and hard copy

Radius Measurement (Optional)

• Measuring range: 5…500 mm, concave/convex
• Lens diameter: 5...100 mm
• Accuracy: 0.1 % 0.2 %