Knowledge

Plano-convex and biconvex lenses are the two most common positive (converging) lens shapes. Both bend parallel light rays to a focus; the difference is that a plano-convex lens has only one curved surface, while a biconvex lens has two. Key Specifications at a Glance Parameter Typical Value Substrate N-BK7, UV fused silica...

A spherical singlet lens has one or two surfaces ground to a constant radius of curvature — the simplest and most widely used optical lens design. Because a sphere is easier to generate, polish, and test than any other surface, spherical singlets remain the default choice for focusing, collimating, and imaging applications...

An aspheric lens has a surface curvature that changes continuously from the center to the edge, instead of staying constant like a spherical lens. That extra design freedom lets a single aspheric element correct aberrations that would otherwise take several spherical lenses to fix. Key Specifications at a Glance Parameter Typical Value...