Mar 1 2016
Nexoptic Technology Corp. ("Nexoptic"") and Spectrum Optix Inc. of Calgary, Canada ("Spectrum" and together with Nexoptic, the "Companies") report that further to their joint news release dated January 12, 2016, the Companies have successfully completed the 'Trade Study' phase of their proof of concept ("POC") prototype development program.
The Trade Study Phase involved modeling and testing several lens stack design iterations [in order to identify the final lens stack design to be utilized in the POC prototype].
The Companies are pleased to report that the resulting lens stack design met all initial criteria, including being scalable to various sizes, through the use of Spectrum's patent pending Blade Optics™ technology.
Further, simulated image results obtained using Zemax ray tracing software exceeded Spectrum's preliminary image quality target for its modeled lens stack design.
The Trade Study was completed by Ruda Cardinal Inc., an internationally recognized leader in optical design, located in Tucson, Arizona.
The next phase of the POC prototype development has been commenced and will include completion of final design adjustments to adjust performance capabilities, tolerancing, stray light analysis and fabrication drawings for the optics. The fabrication drawings are expected to include the full specifications and tolerances required to manufacture the physical lenses for Spectrum's POC prototype, which utilizes Blade Optics™. As part of this next phase, Spectrum currently intends to source, and possibly modify, suitable electronic and digital components for its POC prototype, which is anticipated to include image capture and processing pieces intended to enhance and refine image quality.
John Daugela, President and CEO of Spectrum Optix and Director of Nexoptic, stated,
"For over four hundred years, general telescope design has not significantly changed. We aim to enable transformational change in lens designs with our patent pending Blade Optics™ technology."
The initial criteria for Spectrum's POC prototype lens stack design utilizing its patent pending Blade Optics™ technology included:
- Lens stack depth to aperture ratio of near 1:1
- Use of flat lenses
- Square or rectangular aperture as opposed to circular
- Significant effective focal length in a compact form factor
- Scalable to various sizes
Spectrum's POC prototype is being designed as a fixed magnification digital telescope with a narrow field of view and will be similar in function to many conventional telescopes sold today. However, as a result of the application of Blade Optics™, a unique distinction of Spectrum's lens design is its compressed lens stack depth to aperture ratio compared to traditional curved lens systems for fixed magnification imaging. This could set Spectrum's patent pending Blade Optics™ technology apart from existing lens technologies in the fixed magnification lens market, which includes products such as spotting scopes, telescopes, binoculars, certain camera lenses and other imaging products.
Paul McKenzie, CEO of Nexoptic and Director of Spectrum Optix, stated,
"Having the Trade Study behind us is a significant milestone for the Companies as it required lengthy and creative engineering processes. In addition to constructing a first-of-its-kind telescope, one of our main goals with our POC prototype is to demonstrate to the marketplace how our technology offers the potential to revolutionize numerous imaging applications; and possibly give rise to a new breed of optical products yet to be commercialized."