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Optical and Photonic Solutions Blog
Read our thoughts on the latest industry trends in optical design and learn more about our products and applications.
Latest Blog Posts
Modeling Improvements for Photonic Integrated Circuits
This article discusses modeling improvements made in late 2022 and early 2023 for circuit-level photonic simulations using the Synopsys OptSim Elite product.
What’s New in RSoft Photonic Device Tools 2023.03: Expanded Metalens Design and Multi-Physics Simulations
The latest release, version 2023.03, expands the platform’s capabilities for automated metalens design as well as multi-physics simulations for optoelectronic devices and illumination systems.
What’s New in LightTools 2023.03: Smarter, Faster, More Efficient Illumination Design
LightTools version 2023.03 helps you achieve high-performance illumination designs with smart features for geometry import and creation, improved 3D viewing for fast explorations of model details, and many other usability updates to facilitate more efficient design workflows.
2023 Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) Conference Wrap-up
Synopsys participated as an exhibitor at OFC and demonstrated new innovations in photonic IC design and high-speed Ethernet IP solutions. Read about the innovations and industry trends showcased at OFC.
New Release of CODE V Improves Optical Design Workflows and Efficiency
The new capabilities in CODE V version 2023.03 improve design workflows, from surface input to design export. The release includes the SagFit utility, which converts and fits surfaces more quickly and intuitively than ever before. It provides better optimization assistance and increases modeling design speed. It also includes enhanced interoperability with LightTools to easily simulate optical systems that contain imaging and non-imaging components.
Software & Equipment
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How to Improve Optical Design Performance with Reflectance and Transmittance Measurements
Here are some examples of how reflectance and transmittance measurements can improve your optical product design with the help of the Synopsys TIS Pro instrument.
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How Synopsys Is Supporting Improved Workflows for Automotive Lighting Designers
Learn about the latest features in LucidShape CAA that can improve your automotive lighting design workflows.
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How to Design Safe, Appealing, Functional Automotive Lighting Systems
Learn how to design safe and stylish interior and exterior automotive lighting systems and take a look at important lighting categories and lighting design tools.
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How to Use Example Models in CODE V
Learn CODE V’s specific features when you use example models, available from the SolvNetPlus Knowledge Base.
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Software Interoperability Bridges Complementary Capabilities for Cutting-Edge Optical Design
The new and improved interoperability features between CODE V and LightTools enable you to easily simulate optical systems, thereby streamlining product development time.
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Five Ways to Enhance the Accuracy of Automotive Optical Simulations
Learn five ways to measure optical characteristics of surfaces and materials for your next automotive design project.
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Design an Optical System With Help From the Synopsys SmartStart Library
Access a collection of optical data for glasses, plastics, and surface treatments that can be licensed for use in LucidShape, LucidShape CAA V5 Based, or LightTools.
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Latest Synopsys LightTools SOLIDWORKS Link Module Adds Even More Flexibility
The Synopsys LightTools SOLIDWORKS Link Module features optical property identifiers, ray data source linking, and SOLIDWORKS configuration selection.
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Measuring Retroreflection on Any Material with the Mini-Diff V2
Due to various industry standards, such as those for highway safety or automotive LiDAR applications, it can be important for designers to evaluate the retroreflectivity of materials in their optical systems by including light measurements of these materials.
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LightTools Features Drive Efficient Illumination Optics Design
In honor of LightTools' 27th Anniversary, we've highlighted a few recent enhancements that meet the evolving requirements of illumination system design.
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Structural, Thermal and Optical Performance (STOP) Analysis in CODE V
Learn how Synopsys CODE V optical design software offers effective Structural, Thermal and Optical Performance (STOP) analysis, which is supported by Sigmadyne SigFit Mechanical and Optical Analysis Software.
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Synopsys Expands LucidDrive Features for Pixel Light Headlamp Simulations
The latest LucidDrive release, version 2021.12, offers enhanced features to dynamically validate and refine pixel light headlamp models.
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Expert Tips for (Mobile Camera) Compact Asphere Design
To step up your aspheric lens designs and work more efficiently, try these CODE V design and analysis tips.
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How to Measure and Evaluate Light Scattering in Displays
Synopsys offers multiple solutions for measuring the light scattering properties of displays. Read this article on how you can measure the bidirectional scattering distribution function (BSDF) scattering of a display.
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How Horticultural Crops Benefit from Diffuse Light and the Mini-Diff V2 Instrument
Do you have a diffused glass and coating on your horticultural lighting application? Synopsys provides an easy solution to measure glass and coating performance and optical properties.
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Top Ten CODE V Optical Design Tips, to Help You Build Better Designs, Faster!
CODE V celebrates its 46th anniversary this weekend on August 1, 2021. Here are our top ten tips in CODE V to help you design brilliant and better optical designs.
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LucidShape CAA V5 Based Software from Synopsys Accelerates Automotive Lighting Design Workflows
Unique capabilities in version 2021.06 enable designers to explore design forms and styling options with speed and precision.
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The Top 5 Tools for Designing Freeform Surfaces in CODE V
If you are designing freeform optics, check out the top five tools that will support your design optimization and analysis in CODE V.
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Photonic Symposium Recap
Here's a summary of the presentations from our annual Photonic Symposium from October 2022, which covered new capabilities and trends emerging in the integrated photonics market.
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Photonic Symposium Recap
In September 2021, industry experts gathered online at the Photonic Symposium to convey the current state of the integrated photonics market and its diverse end applications.
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OSA Optical Design and Fabrication Congress
In an IODC presentation, "Aberration Analysis of Zoom Lens System with Freeform Surface Lenses Using XY Polynomial,” Motoyuki Otake of Sony Group Corporation and his co-authors were able to demonstrate a very nice zoom freeform design and sensitivity analysis for an Alvarez-style system.
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Using LightTools for the International Optical Design Conference Illumination Design Problem
Learn how LightTools illumination design software was used to solve the 2021 illumination design problem.
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Meet Dr. Heejoo Choi, 2022 Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award Recipient
We had the opportunity to interview Dr. Heejoo Choi, 2022 Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award Recipient, and learn about how he got interested in optics. He is currently an assistant research professor at the James C. Wyant College of Optical Science, University of Arizona and an Optical Scientist at the Large Binocular Telescope.
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An Interview with David Lippman, Michael Kidger Memorial Scholarship Recipient for 2022
David Lippman from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, is the 2022 recipient of the Michael Kidger Memorial Scholarship. Learn how he became interested in optics, his current research projects, and his future goals.
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Synopsys Announces 2022 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition Results
We are pleased to announce the winners of Synopsys’ 2022 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition. Meet our winners!
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Employee Profile: Meet Alexander Lin – Ambitiously Pursuing Optics and Programming Software for a Greater Goal
Meet Dr. Alexander Lin, who joined the LightTools Software Development team as an Illumination Software Developer in March 2020.
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Synopsys Announces 2021 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition Results
We are pleased to announce the winners of Synopsys’ 2021 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition. Meet our 10 winners!
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Q&A with Jannick Rolland, Distinguished Optics Professor and Industry Innovator
What inspired Dr. Jannick Rolland's career in optics? Read Dr. Rolland's thoughts on women in science, what makes her career satisfying, and her advice for those interested in this field of optics.
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Employee Spotlight: Meet Dr. Eric Schiesser, Optical Software Developer
Meet one of our new employees, Dr. Eric Schiesser, Optical Software Developer, who recently joined the Synopsys Optical Solutions Group. Learn how he got interested in optics and more.
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Thomas I. Harris, 1930 – 2021: Founder of Optical Research Associates and Co-Inventor of CODE V
In memoriam of Mr. Thomas I. Harris, 1930 – 2021, Founder of Optical Research Associates and co-inventor of CODE V.
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An Interview with Brandon Hellman, Michael Kidger Memorial Scholarship Recipient for 2020
Meet Brandon Hellman from the College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, the 2020 recipient of the Michael Kidger Memorial Scholarship. We interviewed Brandon to learn how he became interested in optics, his current research projects, and his future goals.
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Meet Dr. Aaron Bauer, Winner of the Kevin P. Thompson Optical Design Innovator Award
Learn how Dr. Bauer became interested in optics, his current research projects, and his future goals.
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Employee Spotlight:
John Rogers
Read how Dr. John Rogers, winner of the SPIE Rudolf and Hilda Kingslake Award, got started in optics.
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Trends in Imaging Design: Using Image Simulation to Design Cameras
Learn how digital twins, through image simulation, can enable better, more streamlined specifications and virtual testing of imaging systems.
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How Digital Twins Will Dramatically Reduce Field Testing for Autonomous Vehicles
Read how digital twin technology for optical sensors will accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicles by reducing the need for field testing.
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The James Webb Space Telescope Is the Next Best Thing to Time Travel
Explore the James Webb Space Telescope from development to deployment, and learn how our design tools helped test & perfect the unique optical design of JWST.
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Trends in Imaging Design: Why AR/VR Needs Disruptive, Smart Imaging Systems
How is AR/VR is driving innovation in imaging design?
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Trends in Imaging Design: Using Digital Twins to Optimize Imaging Systems
Let's explore how digital twin technology will facilitate disruption in imaging design to pave the way to performance-customized and data-optimized imaging systems.
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Hopes and Expectations for the James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a very challenging mission, and the Synopsys optical engineering team has been privileged to be a member of the JWST Product Integrity Team throughout this demanding project. Launch is scheduled for Dec. 25.
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Designing the Mastcam-Z Camera for the Mars Rover Perseverance
Dr. Blake Crowther, principal engineer for imaging optics in the Synopsys Optical Solutions Group, shares his insights about the objectives, challenges, and most satisfying aspects of designing the zoom camera on the Mars rover Perseverance.
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Taking the Guesswork Out of Optical Properties Characterization
Synopsys now offers solutions for measuring the light scattering properties of materials and surfaces. You can measure how light interacts with a given surface or how light behaves in the volume of a solid. You can then simulate the results in LightTools.
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The Revolution in Space-Based Optics
What is needed to enable smaller, lighter, and higher-performing space-based optical systems? The technology revolution is now with the need for compact, space-based optics.
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An Inside Look at NASA’s Surveyor, SOFIA, Cassini, and WISE Projects
Our engineering services team has contributed to many NASA projects, including the Mastcam-Z zoom camera on the latest Mars rover. Find out what other space projects our engineering team has been involved with.
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The Pitfalls of Choosing Electrical Circuit Languages to Model Photonics in PICs
Here’s a look at why electrical circuit languages are not robust enough for electro-optics co-design.
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What Wikipedia Doesn't Tell You About NASA’s Great Observatories and CODE V
Learn how our optical design software and engineering services have contributed to the NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the Great Observatories.
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Mars Perseverance Rover Features First Zoom Lens in Deep Space
Synopsys optical engineers partnered with others to design the Mastcam-Z zoom lens system on the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.
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