Laser Confocal Scanning Microscope

The new Olympus (Waltham, MA) LEXT® OLS5000 3D laser confocal scanning microscope delivers precise imaging in a fast, easy-to-use system for research and development and quality control inspection. 4K scanning technology and optics designed specifically for the OLS5000 microscope enable the detection of near-perpendicular features and small steps at close to nano-scale. The system acquires data four times faster and improves the user experience with intuitive software designed to automate many common settings. An expansion frame and a dedicated, long working distance (LWD) lens perform precise measurements on samples up to 210 mm in height and concavities up to 25 mm deep — even those with uneven surface cracks.

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Optical Polishing System

Maximum flexibility for optical surface processing is now available with NOVA™ from KrellTech (Neptune City, NJ). This system is configurable for the various and unique applications required in photonics research. Whether polishing telecom waveguides, medical probes or aerospace termini, NOVA is a tool to assist in the development of new technologies. Wireless tablet control and an Android interface provide the programming freedom required for R&D and laboratory environments.

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Lens Centering Software

TRIOPTICS GmbH (Wedel, Germany) has released new software for its established OptiCentric® lens centering system. The software makes it possible to optimize work processes, particularly in production, and to efficiently perform comprehensive tests in R&D. The software is designed to optimally guide the operator through the process and to limit the available options to only the process specific ones. There are several tools available which extend the OptiCentric® functionality from bare lens centering quality assessment to automated lens alignment functions. For example, active alignment processes for doublet cementing and glue bonding into lens cells are supported.

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2.1 Megapixel Sensor

The new Sony Semiconductors STARVIS IMX327 sensor is now available from FRAMOS Technologies (Ontario, Canada). The IMX327 is a more sensitive successor to the IMX290. The 2.1 Megapixel sensor, with a 1/2.8 inch optical format, has a 1920 x 1080 pixel array utilizing a 2.9µm pixel size. The IMX327 reaches a frame rate of 60fps at 12 bits. The IMX327 features the STARVIS technology that brings a back-illuminated pixel to the CMOS sensor, providing a sensitivity of 2376mV which is combined with an SNR1s1 of 0.18 lux, making this sensor perfect for tracking and monitoring under low light conditions. The sensor delivers high image quality in the visible light and near infrared light spectrums. time that allows more flexibility in capturing precisely illuminated snapshots.

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Spectroscopy Cameras

Princeton Instruments (Trenton, NJ) recently introduced ultra-high-performance BLAZE cameras for spectroscopy, featuring two revolutionary new sensors. Proprietary new BLAZE HR-Sensors are super-deep-depletion devices manufactured from high-resistivity bulk silicon in order to yield the highest NIR quantum efficiency of any silicon devices available. HR-Sensors are operated in “fully depleted” mode to preserve high spatial resolution. BLAZE LD and HR cameras are both offered in 1340x100 or 1340x400 formats with 20 μm pixels. BLAZE incorporates the fastest ADC speeds available in CCD cameras. The LD camera models can run with dual 10 MHz readout ports, while the HR cameras feature dual 16 MHz readouts.

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VUV Imaging Spectrometer

McPherson's (Chelmsford, MA) one- and three-meter normal incidence spectrometers are now capable of imaging. With the addition of a carefully adjusted horizontal aperture in the optical path, these spectrometers can now measure vertical spatial profile in addition to dispersed wavelengths. They operate in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and view plasma impurity emission lines in the wavelength range of 300 to 3200 Angstroms. Simultaneous wavelengths measured in a single discharge, about 37 Angstroms. With entrance slit width 0.02 millimeters, users can achieve 15.3 picometer spectral resolution FWHM. The vertical observation range can be tailored to different heights with a convex mirror. The new spectrometers can be built for high vacuum (10E-6 Torr) and also ultra-high vacuum (10E-10 Torr).

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High Voltage DC Power Supply

TDK Corporation (Neptune, NJ) introduced the PHV Series, which are Versatile Precision High Voltage Programmable AC to DC power supplies, available with a broad range of optional Analog and Digital control Interfaces. The PHV Series covers the voltage range from 0-125 Volts to 0-300,000 Volts, at power levels from 14 Watts to 15,000 Watts, and offers High Accuracy, Low Ripple, High Stability outputs in a compact and lightweight switchmode design. Standard models feature a fully instrumented front panel with 4½ digit DVMs for output voltage and current. Output Voltage and Current can be locally set via 10-turn potentiometers with precision dials, or via the Analog (standard) and/or optional Digital interfaces.

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TS5 High-Speed Camera

Fastec Imaging’s (San Diego, CA) TS5 handheld high-speed cameras are suitable for slow-motion viewing of helicopter rotors as well as any rotating engine parts moving at high-speed and susceptible to vibration or alignment problems. This portable, battery-operated camera features a large built-in LCD touch screen and intuitive on-screen controls. There are four models to choose from with resolutions from 2560 x 2080 @ 230fps to 800 x 600 @ 1650fps. All models record over 3200 fps at VGA resolution and more than 29,000 fps at smaller resolutions. The TS5 can be operated as a self-contained camera or controlled over Gigabit Ethernet via Fastec FasMotion software on a PC/Mac, or via the built-in web interface on a PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone.

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