Optical Engineer Companion – Overview
To me the top 3 advantages of the OEC are, first you have instant access to the visualization, there is no post-processing. Second I would put the fact that you can use it outside the lab, there is no need for an optical table. And last but certainly not least, you can build your own instrument and adapt it to your needs as they evolve.
Metrology on-the-go with super-resolution and unparalleled flexibility
The Optical Engineer Companion is an optical metrology system comprising compatible and complementary optical hardware, software and accessories. It offers 800+ combinations and covers a wide range of uses and applications.
The Companion modularity and clever design enable snap reconfigurations for switching between setups and applications, while its accuracy and super-resolution make it the perfect omnitool for optical metrology on-the-go.
Accuracy, insensitivity to vibrations, robustness and ease-of-use
Optical metrology is a keystone in the manufacturing of high-performance optical components and systems, and it has been our core domain of expertise for the past 25 years. The numerous benefits the Optical Engineer Companion brings to the table originate in this extensive experience, building on several patented technologies and a persistent peer-to-peer philosopy.
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing was pioneered and developed by Imagine Optic alongside 25 years of collaborations with the most demanding clients from both academia and industry and close to 3,000 instruments built, delivered and embodied by the HASO family of wavefront sensors. This wavefront analysis technology – now a standard in many fields such as telescope alignment and laser beam characterization – provides lambda/100 accuracy, insensitivity to vibrations and overall robustness and ease-of-use.
HASO LIFT, a 16-fold increase in spatial resolution
In a 2021 breakthrough, Imagine Optic gave Shack-Hartmann a “Big LIFT” with the adjunction of the Linearized Focal Plane Technique, resulting in a 16-fold increase in spatial resolution and bringing it on-par with interferometers for optical surface characterization.
On top of this exceptional performance and reliability, what really makes the Companion a unique set of instruments is the philosophy that guides Imagine Optic’s team approach to the optical engineer’s perspective and user experience. We are optical engineers ourselves, which means that we share similar everyday challenges with our clients and therefore know what matters most. Hence, while bringing together numerous optical and algorithmic innovations, we also saw the importance of magnetic-isometric repositioning and auto-alignment in order to save precious time and reduce or even eliminate tedious tasks.
MTF, 3D PSF and m-squared
Similarly, Waveview 4, the optical metrology software powering the Companion and all HASO wavefront sensors, underwent a major redesign in 2020 and currently provides the most comprehensive set of optics characterization values, including MTF, 3D PSF and m-squared.