Optical glass is a specialized glass used in optical devices like telescopes and eyeglasses. It requires precise formulation and handling to be free from impurities. Glassmaking techniques have been refined since the 1600s, and lens making is a precise art. Optical glass is expensive due to the labor involved, and alternatives like specialty plastics have […]
Optical measurement uses sensors to collect measurements without touching the object. It is precise and fast, but automated systems cannot correct errors like humans. The cost varies and companies offer information on their products’ applications and features. Optical measurement is a measurement technique that relies on the use of optical sensors to collect measurements. There […]
Optical coupling connects devices using light waves. Optocouplers allow fiber optic cables to connect and distribute information in computer networks. Different types of optocouplers are used for special tasks, such as the US government’s mirrored prism design for Internet control. Some electronic devices use internal closed optical coupling systems for faster reaction rates. Optical coupling […]
Thin film optical coatings are microscopically thin coatings applied to optical surface substrate materials such as plastic, glass, infrared material, and metal. They reflect wavelengths of light to generate various optical responses, including anti-reflection, polarizing filtering, band-pass filtering, electrical conductivity, abrasion resistance, and beam splitting. These coatings are used in a wide variety of industries, […]
An optical comparator magnifies and projects an image of an object onto a screen for comparison and measurement. It was developed in the 1920s and is used in production to ensure compliance with standards. The latest advances include video measurement systems that allow ultra-accurate measurements. An optical comparator is a device that magnifies and projects […]
Optical coating is a process where products are coated with metals to reflect or refract light. Different materials and processes can be used to achieve the desired effect. Optical Coating Labs Inc. was a successful company in the 1970s, but was later bought by JDS Uniphase and dismantled, resulting in job losses. Much of the […]
Optical lithography is a process used to create integrated circuits on silicon wafers. It involves coating the wafer with light-sensitive resist, exposing it to focused beams of visible or UV light through photomasks, and etching the surface. The resist can be positive or negative, and photomasks can be used in contact printing, proximity printing, or […]
Optical sorters automatically sort objects based on visual criteria. They are used in food manufacturing to find faults and separate different types of items. Optical sorters can detect defects and remove incorrectly sized parts, and keep different types of items separate. They use light sensors, infrared light, and digital cameras to classify items based on […]
Optical computers use photons instead of electrons for faster speeds, smaller size, and less heat. They are not yet available but could create faster Internet connections and smaller technology parts. Optical computers, also known as photonic computers, use photons instead of electrons to send signals. Photons are the fundamental particles that make up light. The […]
Passive optical networking uses fiber optic cabling and requires few switch points. There are three configurations: FTTC, FTTB, and FTTH. The network carries the signal to the termination point without additional power. Each user has a fixed amount of bandwidth, which can be adjusted by the administrator. The network can connect with external systems. The […]
An ergonomic optical mouse is designed to prevent repetitive stress injuries of the wrist, with a joystick-like shape and buttons on top. It works like a standard mouse but keeps the wrist in a more neutral position. The 3M product costs $50 to $75 and comes in different sizes with added comfort features. It can […]
Optical camouflage is in a primitive stage of development, with prototypes dating back to the late 1980s. The most intriguing prototypes were created by the Tachi Lab of the University of Tokyo, but require a large amount of external hardware and are only convincing from a certain angle. Creating comprehensive optical camouflage would require sophisticated […]
Optical USB refers to USB technology that uses optical fiber to improve data transmission speed. It can also refer to the use of optical technology in USB cables and connectors. While USB 3.0 was expected to use optical technology, it is unclear if it is part of the standard. Optical USB could improve performance and […]
OCR technology converts printed materials into editable text files, saving storage space. It requires hardware and software, and can struggle with handwriting. OCR allows for quick and easy searching of large amounts of data, making it valuable for institutions. Optical character recognition (OCR) is a process of converting printed materials into text or word processing […]
Optical engineering designs devices that use light, such as microscopes, binoculars, and lasers. It relies on the science of optics, including classical and quantum mechanics, and materials science. Optical engineering is essential for fiber optic technology and spectrometers, and is widely used in modern communication and industrial applications. Optical engineering is the engineering discipline that […]
Optical memory refers to discs or storage units that use a visual method to record and read data, such as CDs and DVDs. They can hold a good amount of information but may have limited shelf life and be prone to write errors. Higher density media, such as holography, can store more data but reduce […]
An optical sound card outputs audio to devices with digital optical input, commonly found on home theater receivers. Sound cards process audio information and can be internal or external, with optical capabilities found on high-end multi-channel audio cards. Optical cables, also called TOSlink, use optical fibers to transmit data with less interference and loss than […]
Optical discs are CDs that can be formatted as DVDs, CDs, read-only or rewritable. They are compact, lightweight, rugged and digital, and replaced vinyl records, cassettes, video tapes and floppy disks. The technology is based on light, and a laser beam follows a spiraling trail of holes and lands in the plastic material of the […]
An optical mouse pad is designed to work well with an optical mouse, which uses a camera to track movement. It does not require a specialized pad, but may have trouble on shiny or transparent surfaces. A good pad is made of durable plastic with a non-slip bottom. An optical mouse pad is, quite simply, […]
Optical and laser mice differ in how they track movement on a computer screen. Optical mice use digital image processing technology and LED light, while laser mice use a small laser. Laser mice are more expensive and can track more DPI than optical mice. Computer mouse technology has evolved beyond the ball and rollers first […]
