All optical systems contain both imaging and non-imaging or illumination systems. This Procedural Note describes how ASAP is one of the only complete optical engineering programs that supports the tools necessary to simulate both imaging and illumination systems. Extended sources are physically and mathematically different than the point sources commonly used in lens design. The differences are significant enough that optical design and analysis software must have the capability to simulate point sources as well as extended sources. A brief discussion on some of the important issues in modeling extended sources in general is included.
Light pipes are optical elements that transfer light from a source to a lighting task.
They are found in all types of devices, in just about every industry. Light pipes are produced by the millions, for pennies apiece. While production is simple, designing a light pipe is a complex task. A brief discussion on some of the important issues in modeling light pipes, in general, is included. A brief discussion on some of the important issues in modeling physical optics phenomena in general is also included.