Mastering AI Chip Complexity
Explore challenges and solutions in AI chip development
Download eBook
ImSym – Imaging System Simulator is the industry-first imaging system simulator that is set to transform the way optical engineers design and validate imaging systems. ImSym provides an end-to-end, physically accurate, virtual prototype of your imaging system, making it easier and faster to bring innovative products to market. ImSym addresses the complexities of optical imaging system design and combines the precision and power of CODE V and LightTools to deliver a comprehensive platform for optical engineers and designers.
ImSym version 2025.03 includes important detector model updates that enable you to simulate effects produced by features such as microlenses, an improved Python interface that enables debugging and streamlines advanced automation and utility creation, and GPU acceleration for faster simulation results. This release of ImSym also provides a Beta capability for performing stray light analyses in asymmetric systems.
Support for Sensor Angular Response
CMOS image sensors, especially those using microlenses, have anisotropic angular response to the incident light. This often manifests as radial color shading. ImSym 2025.03 can simulate such effects with the new Relative Angular Response (RAR) capability for the detector model.
ImSym provides the capability to specify measured response data and simulate the response for given angles and wavelengths. This is an important consideration when modeling detector arrays that use microlenses, since the microlenses alter the responsivity of the detector based on the angle of incidence.
Improved Python Interface
Now you can communicate with ImSym from an external Python development environment. This allows you to use a familiar development environment to debug code for advanced simulation with ImSym. You can also use the Python environment to create utilities, which can expand the ImSym interface and functionality to accommodate your specific needs.
Custom user utility
GPU Acceleration
ImSym now supports GPU acceleration for operations such as detector noise modeling, scene stray light generation, and radiometric calibration. This significantly reduces computation time, which is essential in processes such as running simulations in batch mode using the integrated Python interface to the ImSym platform.
Support for 2D Scanning for Stray Light
ImSym includes the Stray Light Scanner, which assesses the stray light of an optical system caused by sources within the scene and external light sources inside or outside the field of view. ImSym 2025.03 supports stray light analysis of asymmetric systems as a Beta capability.
The Stray Light Scanner now includes scanning in both radial and azimuthal angles. The Scan Symmetry options now include Circular, Bilateral, Rectangular, or no symmetry. With these new options, asymmetry is considered in both the principal image and stray light simulations. ImSym can model folded systems, systems with non-circular apertures, and anamorphic systems. You can dial in the field angle and azimuthal angle and align, calibrate, and trace rays for the source interactively.
New Example Models
ImSym includes four example models that will help you get started with ImSym:
- The Mobile Camera example uses a compact lens system to show the basic usage of ImSym.
- The Automotive Camera example demonstrates stray light effects produced by the lens system of an automotive backup camera with a CAD model of the housing.
- The Mid-Wave infrared Camera example explains how to set up an infrared system using a monochrome sensor and how to modify the color map of the final image using custom ISP routines.
- The Machine Vision example models a virtual prototype of a printed circuit board to study the effectiveness of detecting hole features under different illumination angles.
Other Improvements
Additional improvements enhance the ImSym user experience, provide you with a clearer understanding of the internal simulation process, and aid in the selection of input characteristics.
For example, you can now see the basis functions that ImSym uses to compute the continuous spectrum, as well as the ratio of samples in the scene object file to detector pixels, which informs you if the number of samples in the scene is sufficient for an accurate simulation.
Get Started with ImSym Today
Ready to accelerate your optical imaging system development? Discover how ImSym can help you deliver imaging solutions that meet your exacting requirements with unprecedented efficiency and accuracy. Contact us today for a free demo or trial.
Visit our ImSym page to learn more or contact us at optics@synopsys.com.
Continue Reading
Blog
4 min read
/
Jun 20, 2025
Optics on the Assembly Line: Design Complete Machine Vision Systems with ImSym
Blog
4 min read
/
May 16, 2025
Optical Engineering in Space: Designing a Mid-Wave Infrared Camera with ImSym – Imaging System Simulator
