High resolution lenses for machine vision — standard and custom lens design
Ultraviolet Lenses Expand Photographic World
High Resolution Lenses for machine vision, instrumentation, inspection and vibration-sensitive applications. Standard and custom hi-res lens assemblies.
Ultraviolet Lenses
The use of an ultraviolet lens opens a new world to photographers, as they are able to capture images outside of the visible light spectrum. The visible light spectrum is comprised of light waves in the 400 to 700 nanometer spectrum; the lower end of these parameters is infrared light while the upper end is the ultraviolet light spectrum.
The visible light spectrum is the range in which the human eye can detect colors ad objects. Major divisions of the wavelengths appear as a rainbow to the human eye. Physics defines a wavelength as “the distance from a point along the wave to the next similar point, usually measured between crests or troughs.” When viewing a wavelength, those at the lower end of the nanometer spectrum will appear as red, mid wavelengths appear as green or blue while the upper spectrum of the nanometer is visible as a shade of violet. The color white is a result of all of the wavelengths on the visible spectrum combining into one. While white is the most common form of visible form of light, black is the absence of visible light.
The way the human eye views light and color is by the reflection of the wavelengths along the visible spectrum. If, for example, you look at a book with a blue cover, the human eye is actually viewing a reflection of the blue light waves as they are directed back to them. Other wavelengths along the light spectrum are being “absorbed” into the book cover itself. The blue, which is a lower frequency on the nanometer spectrum, is being “returned” to the individual viewing it. A black book cover, on the other hand, simply means that no lights along the visible spectrum are being reflected back to the viewer.
Infrared and ultraviolet detectors are available to enhance the images individuals can view but while they enhance the ability to see the images, they don’t enable the human eye to truly view colors beyond the visible spectrum. The way these detectors operate is by helping the human eye “understand” the additional wavelengths of light. Ultraviolet and infrared devices allow scientists and researchers to view astronomical and weather patterns. Forensic scientists utilize the technologies to reveal organic material that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. Keep in mind, though that even though ultraviolet light falls outside the visible spectrum boundaries, it can cause sunburn and skin damage, but is also used to advantage to treat seasonal affective disorders and used in nurseries to promote vegetation.
Universe Kogaku America adds to its existing line of Quartz lenses, a new 9mm lens for imaging applications in the non-visible light spectrum.