Wells Research & Development

Wells Research Introduces OpticStudio

Wells Research's OpticStudio™ System Provides Quick and Easy Lens Testing at a Fraction of the Price of Automated Systems

Lincoln, MA (April 9, 2003)-Wells Research and Development (WRD), a developer of innovative instrumentation for challenging optical measurement and alignment tasks, today announced OpticStudio™, a new lens testing system that qualifies the performance of optical lenses at a fraction of the price of today's automated systems. OpticStudio is designed to quickly assess the performance of a broad range of lenses, from molded plastic to diffraction-limited objectives. Following a quick setup, the system delivers clear feedback on lens quality. For R&D, OpticStudio tests whether off-the-shelf lenses meet the requirements of new applications. For production engineering, the system diagnoses imaging problems in both commercial and custom lenses.

"OpticStudio is the quickest way to find the root cause of an imaging problem," said Ben Wells, President of Wells Research and Development and developer of OpticStudio. "From quick go/no-go tests on the production line to detailed performance measurements offline, it's hard to make a bad measurement with OpticStudio. It is a highly reliable testing platform that costs a fraction of the price of automated systems."

Compact, Integrated System Features PixelScope Software
OpticStudio features a compact, desktop design that includes all the components found on a classical optical bench. The collimator section creates a diffraction-limited wavefront for the lens under test; it includes a high intensity light source, interchangeable narrow-band filters, and various test reticles. The lens to be tested is held in a universal 3-jaw chuck, mounted on a nodal slide to allow off-axis measurements. An image analysis microscope includes a high resolution FireWire video camera with Sony CCD image sensor.

PixelScope™ image analysis software provides precise numerical measurements in real time. The software features a powerful array of functions, previously only available on far more expensive automated test equipment. The system allows evaluation of lens parameters, including focal length, magnification, as well as the seven primary aberrations: spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, distortion, lateral color, and axial color. Advanced image evaluation functions include Contrast Transfer Function (CTF), Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), as well as linespread and pointspread plots.
Flexible Design

Unlike dedicated production fixtures, OpticStudio is extremely flexible. Components can be reconfigured for testing at infinite or finite conjugates. Afocal testing of telescopes or beam expanders is also possible. The standard OpticStudio configuration includes a 200mm focal length, 25mm diameter collimator. Both longer and shorter focal lengths are available as options.
For Novices and Experts

For novices, OpticStudio simplifies the complexity of the optics testing process. A reference lens and tutorial are supplied to make measurements simple and intuitive. Reticles, filters, and lenses are keyed to ensure components are correctly assembled.

For the seasoned expert, OpticStudio provides a variety of accessories that can be configured for custom tests. In addition, its PixelScope software can be extended to work in conjunction with other test software applications, such as National Instruments' LabVIEW, MatLab, and Microsoft Visual Basic.

A range of accessories is available for OpticStudio, including clamps, rails, and lens holders. The unique dovetail mounting system makes it easy to incorporate the system into custom configurations on an optical table or production line equipment.
Pricing & Availability

OpticStudio includes a 200mm collimator, high intensity light source, self-centering lens mount, video microscope with 10x objective, and 1-meter optical rail. The PixelScope software runs on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP system. The video camera requires a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port or PCI card. The CCD video camera provides 640x480 pixel resolution with a 7 micron pixel size.

OpticStudio was developed by Wells Research and Development and is manufactured by Thorlabs. It is priced at $11,000 for the basic system and can be purchased through Thorlabs' 450-page catalog of optics and opto-mechanical equipment (part number OS100), through the Thorlabs web site at http://www.thorlabs.com, or through the Wells Research and Development web site at http://www.wellsresearch.com. Delivery is 30 days ARO.
About Wells Research and Development

Wells Research and Development (WRD) develops custom optical instrumentation for challenging measurement and alignment applications. Founded by Ben Wells after a distinguished career in engineering and management at Polaroid and Teradyne, the company combines expertise in optics, precision mechanics, software, and motion systems, WRD focuses on applying modular hardware and software to a wide range of optical applications. The company's OpticStudio™ is a manual lens testing system that performs detailed measurements on a wide range of lenses. Additional services include analysis, design, proof-of-concept models, and prototypes of optical and mechanical subsystems. For more information, see http://www.wellsresearch.com.

For further information, contact:
Ben Wells, President
Wells Research and Development
15A Lewis Street
Lincoln, MA 01773 USA
+1 781.259.8667, Fax: +1 781.259.8009
Email: ben@wellsresearch.com
Web: http://www.wellsresearch.com

PR Office:
Shari Worthington, President
Telesian Technology Inc.
49 Midgley Lane
Worcester, MA 01604 USA
+1 508.755.5242, Fax: +1 508.795.1636
Email: sharilee@telesian.com