Optical Design Technology
Outline of the Technology
Leveraging the LED printhead technology we have cultivated through our printer business, we are engaged in the research and development of compact lenses capable of capturing distortion-free images.
These lenses feature:
- No distortion (i.e., images remain true from edge to edge)
- A telecentric optical system (meaning the appearance remains consistent regardless of the object's position within the field of view)
- An extended depth of field (enabling a wide range of focus)
All of these attributes are achieved with a form factor significantly more compact than conventional lenses.
OKI’s Unique Strength Demonstrated in This Technology
Traditionally, distortion-free imaging required approximately 320 mm of space from the subject to the back of the camera. However, by utilizing OKI’s optical design technology, our lenses achieve this at a distance of just about 80 mm—roughly one-quarter of the conventional height. This compact design enables imaging in confined spaces where camera installation was previously challenging due to space constraints. Furthermore, OKI’s lenses offer a substantially deeper depth of field, making it easier to capture subjects of varying sizes simultaneously and to adjust focus when the subject changes.
Potential Use Cases
We envision applications in appearance inspection markets, such as in the manufacturing of electronic devices, semiconductors, and paper. Our lenses are designed for use with equipment such as contact image sensors (CIS), line scan cameras, and area cameras, all of which are commonly utilized in appearance inspections.
Vision for Future Development
By providing compact lenses with an easy focus adjustment mechanism using this technology, we aim to reduce the barriers to installing appearance inspection equipment and resolve issues such as the need to adjust for different inspection targets. This will facilitate the wider adoption of inspection systems, help address labor shortages in the manufacturing industry, and contribute to both productivity and quality improvements.
In addition, to create further high value-added businesses, we will continue advancing the research and development of optical design technologies that can be integrated into our internal products and solutions.
