DATASHEET
Asphere Design in CODE V
Q-Type Polynomials Enable Superior Design Optimization and Tolerancing
Features at a Glance Overview
• Qbfs polynomials for controlling aspheric Full support in CODE V® for aspheric surfaces based on mathematical
slope departure formulations published by Dr. G.W. Forbes of QED Technologies enables
• Qcon polynomials for determining superior design optimization and tolerancing, helping ensure a cost effective,
aspheric sag departure manufacturable system.
• Basis members are
independent (orthogonal)
• Offer many advantages over standard
power-series formulation
Figure 1: Cell-phone lens model containing aspheric elements
New Mathematical Formulations For Aspheric Surfaces
The use of aspheric surfaces in optical systems is becoming increasingly
important as lens systems become more compact and complex, and image
resolution becomes ever more critical. This increasing use of aspheric
components is accompanied by an increasing need to control their production
cost. Unfortunately, the traditional methods of aspheric design present
inherent complications when it comes to manufacturing and testing of
these components.
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Dr. G.W. Forbes of QED Technologies has published new mathematical formulations for rotationally-symmetric aspherical surfaces
that offer several advantages over the traditional polynomial-based aspheres (for example, CODE V’s Asphere or ASP-type surface).
Major advantages of these new forms over the classic power-series description include:
• The terms can be viewed in a physically significant way: the magnitude of the respective coefficient is directly related to slope or
sag departure of the asphere from the base sphere or conic
• The formulations lend themselves to the use of optimization constraints, to substantially improve manufacturability and
thereby reduce cost
• The introduction of slope constraints can also produce aspheres that can be tested without the use of expensive null optics
• The formulations convey the effective number of coefficients and require fewer digits of precision, which greatly simplifies the
numerical burden placed on optical fabricators
• The formulations facilitate the determination of optimum placement of aspheric surfaces in an optical system
• The aspheric terms are orthogonal over a normalization radius, which makes each term unique and meaningful tolerancing of
the terms possible
• The Qbfs polynomial form defines a surface that is characterized by an RMS slope departure of the aspheric surface from a best-
fit sphere. This provides a meaningful quantification of the testability of the surface. The RMS slope of this departure can be
easily calculated, and is proportional to mean fringe density
Departure (μm)
60
40
20
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
r (mm)
Figure 2: Deviation of sample Qcon aspheric surface from a conic section.
Figure courtesy of Dr. Greg Forbes, source cited below
Figure 3: Lithography lens with aspheric surfaces shown in red
The Qcon form defines a surface that is characterized by the sag departure of the aspheric surface from a base conic.
This formulation allows designers to determine the need for a particular term by inspection, thereby avoiding unnecessary
complications for fabrication and testing, and reducing cost.
Q-Type vs. Zernike
Other methods have been employed over the years in an attempt to improve on the classic power-series method of modeling
aspheric surfaces. Zernike polynomials constitute a widely used solution, and share some of the benefits offered by the Q-type
polynomials. However, Zernike polynomials do not address critical manufacturability and testability issues, nor do the coefficients
allow sag or slope departures from the base surface to be determined by visual inspection; the Q-type formulations excel at both.
While Zernike polynomials remain extremely useful for many purposes, the Q-type polynomials offer a unique and innovative
approach to aspheric design.
2
CODE V for Aspheric Design
An exclusive agreement with QED, signed in October of 2009, has supported efforts to integrate superior aspheric design and analysis
capabilities in CODE V software, building upon the core analysis, optimization, and tolerancing strengths of CODE V. The Qcon and Qbfs
surface formulations are currently available in CODE V.
Additional Information
For additional background information, see G. Forbes, “Shape specification for axially symmetric optical surfaces,”
Opt. Express 15, 5218-5226 (2007), which is available online at the OSA Optics InfoBase website:
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OE-15-8-5218
Also see K. P. Thompson, F. Fournier, J. P. Rolland, and G. W. Forbes, “The Forbes Polynomial: A More Predictable Surface For
Fabricators,” in Optical Fabrication and Testing, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2010), paper OTuA6.
The full-text PDF is available online at the OSA Optics InfoBase website:
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=OFT-2010-OTuA6
For more information about CODE V, visit synopsys.com/optical-solutions.html or send an email to [email protected].
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