Optical system design is a demanding discipline that calls for precision, innovation, and the right software tools. Lambda Research Corporation supports professionals in this field with two industry-leading solutions: TracePro® and OSLO®. These software platforms are tailored to address the diverse requirements of engineers working on illumination systems, imaging optics, and complex optical assemblies across a wide range of industries.
The Critical Role of Optical Design Software
Modern technologies—from biomedical devices to autonomous vehicles—rely heavily on advanced optical systems. Designing these systems requires more than theoretical knowledge; it demands powerful tools that can simulate and optimize the behavior of light in complex environments. Optical design software enables engineers to visualize and evaluate system performance before building physical prototypes, significantly reducing development time and cost.
TracePro®: Advanced Illumination and Optical Analysis
TracePro® is a powerful non-sequential ray tracing software designed to model the propagation of light in optical and illumination systems. It is extensively used in applications such as LED design, light guides, biomedical optics, and automotive lighting. With its intuitive 3D modeling capabilities, TracePro allows users to accurately simulate how light interacts with materials and surfaces, thereby predicting optical performance with high precision.
Among its key features, TracePro includes advanced 3D ray tracing capabilities that enable detailed modeling and visualization of light behavior within complex geometries. This helps engineers detect and resolve issues such as reflection losses, scattering, or stray light paths that could impact system performance. The software also offers a comprehensive database of optical materials and coatings, including refractive indices and scattering properties, which allows for simulations that reflect real-world optical behaviors. Integration with CAD software like SOLIDWORKS® further enhances the workflow by allowing direct import of 3D models, eliminating the need to recreate geometries manually and reducing the risk of design errors.
TracePro also supports photorealistic rendering and image simulation, making it ideal for visualizing projected images in applications like head-up displays. Additionally, it features tools like the Stray Light Analyzer and Importance Sampling, which are crucial for evaluating unwanted light paths and improving simulation efficiency in low-flux systems such as LiDAR. These tools ensure accurate results while minimizing computational load.
The 2023.4 update expanded TracePro’s capabilities by introducing support for Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs), including Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs), Computer-Generated Holograms (CGHs), and Zernike Phase surfaces. This update allows for the advanced modeling of cutting-edge optics used in emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and high-end imaging systems.
OSLO®: Precision Lens Design and Optimization
OSLO® (Optics Software for Layout and Optimization) is specialized for designing and optimizing lens systems. It supports imaging systems, interferometers, and fiber optics, and is widely used in scientific, defense, and aerospace applications.
Key features include:
- Comprehensive Lens Design Tools: Facilitates the creation and refinement of multi-element lens systems, with support for geometric and wavefront analysis, aberration correction, and imaging performance optimization across varied optical configurations.
- Optimization and Tolerance Analysis: Offers robust tools to automatically adjust system parameters for peak performance while assessing the impact of manufacturing tolerances, helping ensure that final products meet stringent optical specifications.
- Sequential Ray Tracing: Provides in-depth insights into how rays travel through lens elements in a linear path, allowing precise control over optical properties such as focal length, field curvature, and distortion—critical for high-resolution imaging applications.
- DOE Integration and Export: Allows designers to incorporate diffractive optics into their systems and export these designs to TracePro for full-system simulation and stray light analysis, supporting a streamlined workflow between sequential and non-sequential environments.
Synergistic Use of TracePro® and OSLO®
The synergistic use of TracePro® and OSLO® creates a powerful and efficient workflow that spans from the initial lens design phase to full system validation. OSLO excels in precision optical layout and sequential design, while TracePro offers robust capabilities in 3D modeling, light propagation analysis, and environmental simulation.
Together, these tools enable a seamless design process. For example, engineers can start by designing a head-up display (HUD) lens system in OSLO, optimizing the optical path and virtual image location.
The system can then be exported into TracePro, where it is possible to simulate how the image appears to the driver—factoring in reflections, parallax, windshield properties, and ambient lighting conditions. This integrated approach allows for early identification and resolution of potential issues such as ghosting or image blur, thereby improving design accuracy and accelerating the time to market.
Real-World Applications
- Automotive Systems: TracePro is extensively used for modeling LiDAR and HUD systems in autonomous and driver-assisted vehicles. It enables designers to evaluate signal efficiency, obstacle detection, and visual clarity under varying lighting conditions and materials.
- Medical Devices: In diagnostic and therapeutic tools like endoscopes or surgical lighting systems, TracePro helps simulate light paths and energy delivery with precision, while OSLO ensures that imaging optics are finely tuned for accuracy and resolution.
- Aerospace and Defense: OSLO supports the design of high-performance telescopes, targeting optics, and satellite imaging systems, while TracePro assesses environmental effects, such as thermal distortion or stray light interference, in mission-critical applications.
- Consumer Electronics: Whether it's smartphone cameras, AR glasses, or compact projectors, both software packages assist in optimizing performance within confined form factors, ensuring visual quality and manufacturability.
Lambda Research Corporation’s TracePro® and OSLO® provide a comprehensive toolkit for optical system designers, offering deep capabilities in both sequential and non-sequential modeling. Whether you are developing cutting-edge automotive sensors, advanced medical imaging systems, or compact consumer electronics, these software solutions empower engineers to push the boundaries of innovation.
By enabling detailed simulations, accurate analysis, and seamless integration across design phases, TracePro and OSLO not only streamline workflows but also help ensure that final products meet the highest standards of optical performance. As the demands of modern optics continue to grow, these tools stand out as essential assets for engineers striving to bring complex optical visions to life—efficiently, accurately, and with confidence.