Cardinal Points Of Lens

Understanding Focal Lengths, Nodal Points, and Principal Planes and Zemax Simulation

What you'll learn

What are Lens Cardinal Points and why are they important?

Understanding the Principal Planes of a Lens and their impact on optical design.

Effective Focal Length (EFL) – How to define and calculate it.

Back & Front Principal Planes (BPP & FPP) – Their physical meaning and relevance.

Hiatus of a Lens – A crucial factor in thick lens systems.

Distance and Planes Review – Understanding spatial relationships in optical systems.

Methods for determining principal planes.

How to locate and calculate focal points for different optical configurations.

How to add optical surfaces in Zemax for accurate modeling.

Understanding prescription data in Zemax and how it relates to principal planes and focal points.

What is an immersed optical system and why is it important?

How immersion affects effective focal length (EFL).

Understanding principal planes in immersed optical systems.

Calculate EFL, BPP, FPP, BFL, and FFL

Understanding prescription data for immersed optical systems.

Definition & Importance of Nodal Points.

Understanding mirror nodal points.

How to calculate nodal points for different systems.

How to extract prescription data for immersed optical systems on both sides.

Requirements

Basic Understanding of Optics

Refraction and reflection

Basic lens functions

Comfort with basic algebra and trigonometry for working with lens formulas.

Some exposure to Gaussian optics is a plus, but not mandatory.

While the course introduces Zemax, prior experience with the software will help learners navigate more efficiently.

Students who are new to Zemax can still follow along but may need to spend extra time familiarizing themselves with the interface.

A Computer with Zemax Installed (Optional but Recommended)

Recommended software: Zemax OpticStudio

No Zemax experience? Students can still benefit from conceptual understanding and examples.

Description

Mastering Lens Cardinal Points & Optical System Design with ZemaxAre you looking to master optical system design and understand lens cardinal points, principal planes, and focal lengths? Do you want to apply these concepts using Zemax OpticStudio for real-world optical simulations?This course provides a deep dive into the fundamental principles of lens systems, including effective focal length (EFL), back and front focal lengths (BFL & FFL), principal planes (BPP & FPP), and nodal points. You'll also learn how immersed optical systems differ from standard systems and how to analyze them in Zemax.What You Will Learn:Understand Lens Cardinal Points and their role in optical system design.Learn how to calculate focal lengths, principal planes, and hiatus in thick lenses.Master the concept of nodal points and their applications in optical systems.Analyze immersed optical systems and understand how they affect optical performance.Gain hands-on experience with practical examples of thick lenses and immersed lenses.Learn how to model and extract optical system parameters in Zemax OpticStudio.Who Should Take This Course?This course is perfect for:Optical Engineers & Designers working in lens and optical system development.Physics & Engineering Students studying optics, photonics, or optical engineering.R&D Professionals in Imaging & Optical Instrumentation (microscopes, telescopes, AR/VR, etc.).Lens & Optical System Manufacturers interested in precision design.Anyone interested in understanding optical system simulations in Zemax.Prerequisites:Basic understanding of geometrical optics (Snell’s Law, refraction, lenses).Familiarity with basic algebra and trigonometry for optical calculations.(Optional) Experience with Zemax OpticStudio is beneficial but not required.Course Structure & Key Topics:Lens Cardinal Points – Understanding EFL, BFL, FFL, BPP, FPP, and hiatus.Principal Planes & Focal Point Calculations – Theory and real-world applications.Immersed Optical Systems – How they differ from standard optical setups.Practical Examples & Step-by-Step Calculations – Thick lens and immersed systems.Zemax OpticStudio Tutorials – How to simulate lens parameters and extract optical data.Nodal Points & Their Importance – Theory and practical determination.Hands-On Zemax ApplicationsLearn how to add surfaces, input prescription data, and determine cardinal points in Zemax.Apply practical examples to solidify your understanding of key optical concepts.By the end of this course, you'll have the skills to analyze, design, and optimize optical systems with a deep understanding of lens cardinal points and their practical applications in Zemax OpticStudio.Ready to take your optical design skills to the next level? Enroll now and start mastering optical system design and simulation!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 Instructor

Section 2: Lens Cardinal Points

Lecture 3 What is the Lens Cardinal Points?

Lecture 4 Why Understanding the Principal Planes of a Lens Matters

Section 3: Key Concepts: Focal Lengths, Principal Planes, and Hiatus

Lecture 5 Lens Effective Focal Length (EFL)

Lecture 6 Back Principal plane (BPP)

Lecture 7 Lens Back Focal Length (BFL)

Lecture 8 Lens Front Focal Length (FFL)

Lecture 9 Front Principal plane (FPP)

Lecture 10 Distance and Planes Review

Lecture 11 The Hiatus of a Lens

Section 4: How to Calculate Principal Planes

Lecture 12 Determining Principal Planes

Lecture 13 Determining the Focal Points

Section 5: Practical Example: Thick Lens

Lecture 14 Example 1: EFL?

Lecture 15 Example 1: BPP?

Lecture 16 Example 1: FPP?

Lecture 17 Example 1: BFL?

Lecture 18 Example 1: FFL?

Lecture 19 Review Example 1

Section 6: Determining Principal Planes and Focal Points in Zemax

Lecture 20 Adding Surfaces in Zemax

Lecture 21 Prescription Data

Section 7: Immersed Optical System

Lecture 22 Immersed Optical System Definition

Lecture 23 Immersed Optical System EFL

Lecture 24 Immersed Optical System Principal Planes

Section 8: Practical Example: Immersed Thick Lens

Lecture 25 Example 2: EFL?

Lecture 26 Example 2: BPP?

Lecture 27 Example 2: FPP?

Lecture 28 Example 2: BFL?

Lecture 29 Example 2: FFL?

Lecture 30 Review Example 2

Section 9: Determining Principal Planes and Focal Points for Immersed Systems in Zemax

Lecture 31 Adding Surfaces in Zemax for Immesed System

Lecture 32 Prescription Data for Immesed System

Section 10: Nodal points

Lecture 33 Nodal Points Definition

Lecture 34 Mirror Nodal Points

Lecture 35 Nodal Points Calculation

Section 11: Practical Example: Immersed Thick Lens on Both Sides

Lecture 36 Example 3: EFL?

Lecture 37 Example 3: BPP?

Lecture 38 Example 3: FPP?

Lecture 39 Example 3: BFL?

Lecture 40 Example 3: FFL?

Lecture 41 Example 3: Nodal Points?

Lecture 42 Review Example 3

Section 12: Determining Cardinal Points for Immersed Systems in Zemax

Lecture 43 Adding Surfaces in Zemax for Immesed System

Lecture 44 Prescription Data for Immersed System on Both Sides

Section 13: Summary

Lecture 45 The Crucial Role of Cardinal Points in Optical Systems

Lecture 46 Recap of Knowledge

Section 14: Bonus Session

Lecture 47 Bonus Lecture

Optical Engineers & Designers,Those working in lens design, optical system development, and optical simulations.,Engineers using Zemax for modeling and analyzing optical systems.,Physics & Engineering Students,Graduate and undergraduate students studying optics, photonics, physics, or optical engineering.,Those who want a structured and practical approach to understanding lens behavior.,R&D Professionals in Imaging & Optical Instrumentation,Professionals designing microscopes, cameras, telescopes, AR/VR, night vision systems, and other imaging devices.,Lens & Optical System Manufacturers,Engineers involved in fabrication and testing of lenses and optical components.,Anyone Interested in Optical Simulations,Those who want to understand how to simulate optical systems in Zemax.