StingRay Optics has been awarded a contract to design and deliver an 800mm Focal Length F/4.0 Catadioptric Lens Assembly.
The lens assembly is optimised for broadband imaging with the newest large format focal plane arrays (FPAs). The custom F/4.0 lens as designed features an operational field of view (FOV) up to 36mm. The long focal length solution will provide superior image quality from the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) to the long-wave infrared (LWIR), specifically from 3 to 12µm.
StingRay Optics’ catadioptric lens design with its compact geometry provides advantages over conventional, all-refractive lens configurations. Long focal length systems require large aperture optics, which increase raw material and production costs. StingRay’s solution incorporates a 9” diameter primary mirror in lieu of the traditional refractive optical elements of similar size. The reflective design significantly reduces material and manufacturing costs while shortening the delivery cycle associated with the exotic refractive optical elements of equivalent diameters. Additionally, the use of reflective elements will greatly reduce image degradation associated with operating temperature fluctuations often found in refractive-style designs.
