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Luminance Camera

The LightTools Luminance Camera feature simplifies the setup process that allows you to capture detailed luminance measurements of your optical systems. With a single click, this tool adds a ¡°pinhole camera¡± system to your model for evaluating the brightness and uniformity of displays, lighting fixtures, and other illuminated objects to ensure that your designs deliver the desired visual performance in real-world conditions.

The Luminance Camera is easy to use and adjust, and it integrates seamlessly with other LightTools features to provide a comprehensive solution for luminance analysis. The feature supports various measurement configurations, including capturing luminance profiles, isocandela plots, and luminance distributions. Whether you are working on automotive lighting, architectural lighting, or display technology, this tool will help you achieve the best possible results.

Head-Up Display (HUD) Analyzer Utility

Head-up displays (HUDs) are becoming increasingly important in automotive and aerospace applications. LightTools' new HUD Analyzer utility provides specialized tools for designing and evaluating these systems. The HUD Analyzer allows you to simulate the optical performance of HUDs, including critical factors such as field of view, distortion, and luminance distribution.

The HUD Analyzer makes it easier to optimize the design of HUDs, ensuring that they provide clear, accurate information to the user. You can simulate various HUD configurations, including virtual image positions, combiner geometries, and environmental conditions. By leveraging this tool, you can create HUDs that enhance safety and usability in demanding environments.

Birefringent Coatings

Birefringent coatings are used to control the polarization of light in various optical systems. LightTools now includes enhanced modeling capabilities for birefringent coatings, allowing you to simulate their effects with greater accuracy. These coatings are essential for applications such as microscopy, telecommunications, and laser systems, where precise polarization control is critical.

With the new birefringent coating tool, you can model the polarization behavior of light as it interacts with different materials. The feature enables you to define the refractive indices, thicknesses, and orientations of a birefringent coating, providing detailed insights into their impact on your optical system. This capability is crucial for designing systems that require precise control over light polarization, ensuring that you can achieve the desired performance in your optical designs.

Expanded Example Model Library

To help you get started with its many features and capabilities, LightTools has expanded its Example Model Library. This library includes a wide range of pre-built models that demonstrate the capabilities of the software and provide a starting point for your own projects. By exploring these examples, you can quickly learn how to use new tools and apply them to your designs.

The library covers various applications, from display technology to lighting systems, providing valuable insights and inspiration for your work. Added in this release are Stray Light examples using the LightTools sequence ray tracing capability with NS rays and ray paths, as well as application examples in the new Life Sciences category: a photoplethysmography (PPG) device that uses light to measure blood flow and blood pressure, and freeform lens for UV sterilization.

Conclusion

The latest LightTools update includes significant advancements that enhance design capabilities, learning tools, and interoperability for optical engineers. Featuring advanced functionalities and user-friendly improvements, LightTools continues to be the leading choice for achieving superior optical design performance across a wide range of applications.

Evaluate LightTools to see these new features.  Request a trial or schedule a demo by emailing us at optics@synopsys.com.