CAPT 3050: Introduction to Optical Systems
Kenny Kubala, Instructor

Course Description

This 2 day course will provide the non-optical student with a fundamental understanding of optical system design. The student will leave this course with the ability to understand and communicate with an optical engineer at the system level. The course covers the basic components and concepts of geometrical optics. The concepts of refraction, reflection, absorption and dispersion will be discussed. Lenses, mirrors, prisms and spectral filters will be discussed as components in an optical system. The instructor will cover the meaning of optical system specifications and the methods used to evaluate optical system performance. The discussion will cover a variety of everyday optical systems such as cameras, projectors, microscopes, telescopes and Machine Vision systems including illumination considerations. During the course, the student will be exposed to a substantial lexicon of optical terminology whose understanding is essential when working with optical systems. This lexicon includes:

Reflection (Fresnel, specular & diffuse), Refraction, Forward Scatter, F#, Focal Plane, Field of Vision (FOV), Aberrations (spherical, chromatic, coma, astigmatism), Aperture, Spot Diagram, Modulation Transfer Function, Dispersion, Backscatter, Numerical Aperture, Pixel, Instantaneous FOV, Pupil, Diffraction Limited Spot, Point Spread Function, Absorption, Optical Power, Field Curvature, Distortion, Airy Disc and Line Spread Function.

Who Should Attend

This course is specifically directed at non-optical engineers and technicians who find themselves working on optical system in conjunction with optical engineers. This includes electrical, mechanical, control systems, and systems engineers and technicians. The fundamentals covered are applicable to surveillance systems, radiometric systems, machine vision systems and laser based systems for military, industrial and medical applications.

About the Instructor

Kenny Kubala has a BS in Optical Engineering from the University of Arizona and a MS in Electrical Engineering with an optical emphasis from University of Colorado. He is anticipating his Ph.D. award in the fall of 2001. His electrical engineering background gives Kenny a perspective rarely found in purely optical engineers that enables him to explain optics in a manner that resonates with engineers of other disciplines. Kenny worked for WYCO Corporation designing non-contract surface profilers. Subsequently, he worked under research grants from the National Science Foundation at both JILA and University of Colorado Optical Computing Systems Center. His optical modeling background includes work with Zemax, Oslo6 and CodeV. He authored US Patent Number 5982549 "Ultra -Wide Field Viewing System".

Return to CAPT Chronological Course Schedule (2002)

Return to TOP

Register now!