SSG - What We Do

WHAT WE DO
We do illumination optical design on a contract basis for manufacturers of instruments
and machines. We put light where you want it.

There are three main steps in the complete design process:

Understand the light source.

Design or select the optical components that will satisfy system requirements.

Present design results to you, along with specs for standard parts, digital coordinate lists for custom items, and suggested materials and processes.

1: The light source – The most important part of any illumination design! If you don’t know where the light is coming from, all the calculations in the world will not tell you where it goes. Below, a high-resolution digital imager reveals fine detail in the light from a complex arc lamp. The lamp axis is horizontal - heated plasma rises above the centerline. If light source output is not specified by the lamp manufacturer, a simple model serves for most design jobs. With a simple lens and photographic light meter, you can construct a multi-level model from any light source, usually good enough for a valid computer analysis.

Direct values of luminance from a complex arc lamp.

2: Components - What's in the system? In general, the more parts we put into a system, the worse it gets. Every optical component introduces loss, scatter, and cost. A single reflector or lens is ideal - but it must be the right shape, in the right place. Figuring out the shape and location is the task of illumination design.

3: Design results - This is a quantitative description of the light distribution on your target. The graphic picture of light on your target can be in the form of a spot plot, an isoluminous plot, a 3-D Excel plot, and/or a 3-D wire-frame view of illuminance (see below).

We deliver the complete specifications of the optical components - lens or reflector. If it is a stock commercial part, that simply means the location in the system - what to buy and where to buy it. If it is a custom part, then we give you the digital specifications for building it and suggested suppliers, along with best materials and coatings.

Getting Started: Call 415-586-3818 or send an e-mail to have a confidential discussion about your optical design project. SSG can immediately send you a non-disclosure agreement guaranteeing that the project, including any data you give us, remains entirely confidential.