The global market for optical instruments is growing. According to the latest report from market intelligence firm, Business Research Insights, it was valued at $3972m in 2022, and is predicted to reach $7371m by 2032.
This growth is attributed to increased demand from a number of sectors, including healthcare and life sciences, medical imaging, surveillance, and also space applications. Technological advancements, including enhanced imaging sensors and more compact designs, says the report, are also helping to drive innovation in the market to meet these evolving needs.
But in rising to this demand, and with ever more specialist applications opening up, instrument makers can face a number of hurdles to overcome when it comes to product development, performance, and competitiveness. For example, achieving precision is crucial for applications such as medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring, where even small deviations can affect data accuracy. Managing costs without compromising quality is another key challenge, as high-performance components can increase production expenses. Additionally, scaling production from prototypes to volume manufacturing requires consistent quality at the same time as managing supply chain and cost fluctuations.
Keeping pace with ever evolving technological advancements is essential, as manufacturers find they must integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI and data analytics into their designs. At the same time, they need to navigate complex regulatory requirements and ensure compliance across industries, particularly in healthcare and aerospace. Then there is the supply chain management, sustainability, and minimising time-to-market concerns, as manufacturers work to deliver innovative, high-performance instruments efficiently and cost-effectively.
The role of optical filters in instrument design
Addressing these challenges can require a combination of innovation, collaboration with component suppliers, and a focus on long-term reliability. Take optical filters, for example. These are essential optical components within optical instruments. In fluorescence microscopy, for example, they are used to separate the light used to excite a sample from the fluorescence emitted by it, making it possible to observe tiny biological structures. Similarly, in spectrophotometry, filters help isolate particular wavelengths, enabling precise measurement of a sample’s absorbance or reflectance properties.
In fact, one could arguably say that the performance of an instrument could hinge on selecting the right optical filter. This is where the decision between off-the-shelf catalogue filters and custom filters is a key consideration.
Catalogue filters: are they enough for optical instruments?
Catalogue filters can offer a quick and convenient option when developing a new instrument. They're typically used in early prototypes, allowing engineers to test their designs without worrying about the filter specifications during the initial proof-of-concept phase. However, when the project moves to the manufacturing stage, and the aim is to deliver a competitive, high-performance product, catalogue filters can fall short for a number of reasons. For example, they are designed to serve a wide range of applications, so may lack the precise specifications a particular instrument would need. This can result in compromises on performance, leading to lower sensitivity, increased noise, or poor wavelength selectivity.
In addition, off-the-shelf filters can often offer features that are not required. For instance, you may end up paying for an optical density (OD) or a level of out-of-band blocking far beyond what your application requires, leading to unnecessary costs. Then there is the risk that catalogue filters do not fit seamlessly into the instrument's design. This could cause issues with mounting, alignment, or physical dimensions that complicate assembly and operation.
What are the advantages of custom filters?
Custom optical filters, on the other hand, are designed to meet the exact requirements of a given application. As such, they can offer a range of benefits to boost an instrument’s performance for a greater competitive edge. One of the main advantages of custom filters is the ability to define exact optical characteristics. Whether it’s tuning the centre wavelength, passband width, edge steepness, or ensuring deep out-of-band blocking, custom filters can be tailored to meet exactly the performance criteria that an instrument demands.
Customisation also allows for the design of filters that meet a project’s specific needs without paying for unnecessary performance features. For instance, if an application only requires an OD of 4, there’s no need to pay for an OD-7 filter that adds cost but no additional value to a system. They can even help to reduce a system’s complexity - in some cases, multiple catalogue filters can be combined into a single custom filter, simplifying the design and potentially improving performance. What’s more, they can be integrated more seamlessly into an instrument's design. Whether the requirement is for specific dimensions, mounting configurations, or filters optimised for unique angles of incidence (AOI) and illumination conditions, custom filters ensure that every aspect of the filter is designed to work in complete harmony with the rest of the system.
The Delta Optical Thin Film difference
By partnering with a supplier that has proven expertise in designing and manufacturing custom optical filters, you can ensure that your filters are designed to enhance your product’s capabilities without unnecessary complexity or cost.
Enter Delta Optical Thin Film. The company has been working closely with customers since the 1970s to provide bespoke filters to fit their exact requirements. Its Hørsholm facility, close to Copenhagen, Denmark benefits from significant investment in state-of-the-art equipment that has been specifically designed for the cost-effective production of optical filters. In addition, the company’s team of optical engineers has collectively achieved more than 75 years of optical design experience at Ph.D. level, so they are ideally placed to work with you on exactly the right solution to meet your needs, whatever the project demands.
