03 Aug Freely moldable optical filters
Laser Components sells dielectric optical filters drawn from PMMA using a novel thermoforming process. According to the supplier, the filters, which have a maximum thickness of 500 µm, can be formed into any shape, opening up new possibilities: With hemispherical surfaces, the light always strikes the optics perpendicularly, regardless of its angle of incidence (AOI). This should avoid the problem of blue shift that occurs with conventional optical interference filters as the AOI increases. In practice, the bandpass filter with a narrower bandwidth thus also allows a better signal-to-noise ratio.
The ultra-thin filters can be used at wavelengths between 370 nm and 1700 nm and have a thermal drift of about 0.1 nm / °C. From single- and multi-notch to long-pass, short-pass and band-pass filters, all common filter types can be implemented with the new process, according to the supplier. Applications include smartphones, wearables and endoscopic medical applications, where conventional dielectric filters cannot be used due to their thickness.
Further information from the distributor
Source and image: www.lasercomponents.com
