By So much of the technology we use daily is made possible by high-quality optics. Optics, otherwise known as lenses or devices used to transmit light and images, are vital to everyday objects such as glasses, binoculars, cameras, and any type of device using a screen to display light and color.
Optics are also critical in spaces like the healthcare and scientific communities, where life-saving research is often performed under the optical lens of a microscope. And of course, some of the largest optical components used in telescopes allow us to find our place in the universe.
As you begin to learn more about the optical industry and why optics are useful, you’ll want to learn about the different types of optical components. After all, a camera lens is only made useful by the combination of the right components.
So what are these different components and why are they important? Keep reading to find out now.
Table of Contents
Main Types of Optical Components
Right upfront, you can separate optical components into two categories; transmissive and reflective.
Transmissive optical components are those that allow light and images through them, such as lenses, windows, and prisms. Reflective components are those where light doesn’t pass through the object, but reflects away from it, such as a mirror or reflector.
Reflective Optical Components
Mirrors are a commonly used optical component that is typically made from glass or metal. Typically they come in a flat or spherical shape.
They are primarily used to redirect and focus light onto another object. The degree of reflection is determined by variables such as wavelength as well as the angle of the mirror in relation to the source of light.
You can use multiple mirrors in sequence to adjust the orientation of the image.
Transmissive Optical Components
There are many different types of transmissive components. While lenses are the most well-known, the others are just important. Here’s what you need to know.
Lenses
To best understand the uses of optical lenses, just think about eyeglasses or cameras. They help to make sense of the images that they are seeing. They translate information, color, and light into a meaningful picture for the application it’s chosen for.
And they come in many different styles. Custom-made lenses are the most requested optical component. You can have lenses made in many different shapes, such as spherical or cylindrical, and almost any size you could imagine.
Having lenses custom-made for your project ensures a precise fit and performance, which is otherwise known as the best form. You can discover all about optical components manufacturing and find more Precision Optics here.
Filters
Think of filters like a photographic filter you add to change the light and coloration of your images. When it comes to optics, filters do the same thing, adjusting the characteristics of a beam of light.
Filters can adjust the intensity, letting more or less light through, or separate the individual spectrums found within a beam of light. Since different types of filters allow for different adjustments made to light, they can be combined to achieve truly unique effects.
Prisms
Prisms are objects with many flat sides. These are all angled very specifically to accommodate one specific project or use case.
Prisms work by inverting or diffusing light and dispersing it into separate wavelengths. They can also help to rotate images.
Different types of prisms will accomplish different goals, such as bending light 90 degrees, rotating the image, deflecting light, and steering beams of light in a specific direction.
Diffusers
Diffusers work by spreading light evenly onto a surface or an image. They take a direct beam of light and cause it to spread out, hitting a large surface area with an even amount of light at lower intensities.
An example of this is often seen in portrait photography. Light from a direct source, such as the sun or a light fixture, can pass through a screen or diffuser, causing the light to shine evenly in different directions.
The result is less harsh lighting and shadows and a more pleasant image.
Beamsplitters
Beamsplitters work by splitting a single beam of light into two separate beams of light. They are made of two triangle-shaped pieces of glass that are connected to form a cube.
The type of adhesive used, as well as the thickness of application, will determine the effectiveness of the beam splitting. It’s this layer of adhesive that will allow half of the light beam to transmit through while reflecting half of the beam away, creating two beams out of one.
Other types of beamsplitters, made with other materials, can be used depending on the application. These are seen widely in fiber optic cables.
Diffraction Grating
Similar to beamsplitters, diffraction gratings split light beams into multiple beams. But with these, a single beam can be turned into several beams of light, all moving in different directions.
The grating itself is made of a periodic structure. The spacing within the grating is what determines the direction that the beams will move. The grating can either be transmissive or reflective.
When used with continuous sources of light, diffractions can create a rainbow of colors. You’ll often notice this effect action when you look at the back of a CD, where at different angles, you’ll see rainbow colors.
Polarizer
Polarizers work by blocking some light waves while allowing others to pass through. The waves allowed or reflected away depend on the polarization of the waves.
Since many light sources contain a mixture of polarized waves, a polarizer can clarify this light, giving it a better definition. One example is the use of polarized sunglasses. These allow you to see under the surface of the water, where you normally wouldn’t be able to due to glare from the sun.
Custom Optics Empower Imaginations
There are many other types of optical components in use in everyday technology. Understanding how they work and what they are made of is fascinating. It’s even more fascinating when you think of what you can do with custom-made optics.
Looking for more information like this? Be sure to check out our blog today to keep reading.
