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Robert McLeod
This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5600, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.
Read more
This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5600, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.
Read more
This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5600, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.
Optical instruments are how we see the world, from corrective eyewear to medical endoscopes to cell phone cameras to orbiting telescopes. When you finish this course, you will be able to design, to first order, such optical systems with simple mathematical and graphical techniques. This first order design will allow you to develop the foundation needed to begin all optical design as well as the intuition needed to quickly address the feasibility of complicated designs during brainstorming meetings. You will learn how to enter these designs into an industry-standard design tool, OpticStudio by Zemax, to analyze and improve performance with powerful automatic optimization methods.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/anh17l/first
What's inside
Syllabus
Introduction to Geometrical Optics
This module introduces rays, which we use to describe the motion of light through air and materials. The course overview describes the goals of this course and gives tips on how to make the best use of the course materials to be successful. The lectures introduce the material. The in-video questions, lab demonstrations, PhET interactive demonstration, practice problems, and homework assignment allow you to get actively involved in learning the material.
Read more
Syllabus
Introduction to Geometrical Optics
This module introduces rays, which we use to describe the motion of light through air and materials. The course overview describes the goals of this course and gives tips on how to make the best use of the course materials to be successful. The lectures introduce the material. The in-video questions, lab demonstrations, PhET interactive demonstration, practice problems, and homework assignment allow you to get actively involved in learning the material.
Read more
Optical System Design in OpticStudio
In this module, you will learn how to enter the description of an optical system into OpticStudio, analyze the performance of that system using various calculations and plots, and finally optimize that design by defining a merit function and search variables.
First Order Ray Tracing
This module applies Snell's Laws to the curved interfaces of lenses and mirrors. You will learn the graphical and mathematical tools you need to calculate image size and location for thin lens and mirror systems. This foundation is essential to build more complex optical systems.
Thick Optics and Mirrors
This module extends the analysis of the previous module to include the effects of real, thick lenses. You will learn how to input this factor into your optical system analysis and design.
First-Order Ray Tracing of Multi-Element Systems
For multiple element optical systems, the mathematical tools introduced in this module will make analysis faster and more efficient. In this module, you will learn how to cascade multiple lens systems using matrix multiplication.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Develops foundational knowledge and intuition necessary for optical system design
Introduces leading industry software, OpticStudio by Zemax, for advanced analysis and optimization
Taught by Robert McLeod, an experienced instructor in the field of optical engineering
May require additional software and hardware for hands-on practice, which may pose financial barriers
Assumes some background knowledge in physics and mathematics, which may require learners to do additional preparatory work
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Save First Order Optical System Design to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Reviews summary
Highly rated optics course with practical hands-on
Learners say this optics course covers the basics of geometric optics while providing practical experience with industry-standard software. The course receives largely positive reviews, with students highlighting its engaging assignments, clear explanations, and the opportunity to use Zemax OpticStudio. However, some learners note the difficult exams and the need for additional support materials.
Students appreciate the well-organized course materials and find the recorded lectures and presentations particularly valuable.
"Good lectures and presentations in this course."
"The course is well structured."
"well-organized course."
Students value the hands-on experience with Zemax OpticStudio, which allows them to apply their knowledge and gain practical skills.
"It was great experience to learn zemax"
"Excellent course, thank you Amy and Robert."
"Very helpful. Material is good. Professor explains the topics very nicely."
While the instructors are praised for their clear explanations, students express a desire for more support in the discussion forums and with technical issues.
"There is no staff helping in the discussion forums."
"Very good introduction to optical system design.Pros: progressive learning, videos well put together, presentation concise and well prepared, access to the pdf presentation, Cons: little support to install and use the software, no response from the teachers, teachers are not very responsive generally"
"Overall this gives a nice introduction to more engineering aspects of first order lens systems."
Some students encounter software issues, such as difficulties installing and using OpticStudio, which can hinder their learning experience.
"Right now I rate it 1 star because a software package, OpticStudio, for which we are supposed to get a free trial for the course is not made available through the course and Coursera is unable or unwilling to help sort out the problem."
"Getting the OpticStudio software was a challenge."
"But the best part is the capstone project at the end. Too difficult, I've never expected at this level."
While the course is praised for its engaging assignments, learners caution that the difficult exams and quizzes require a strong understanding of the material.
"Many more examples are needed to grasp the whole point of the course and to make it more enjoyable"
"Assignments are difficult and the auto-grader is a bit buggy."
"The exam was rough (lots of curveballs)."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in First Order Optical System Design with these
activities:
Review geometrical optics
Show steps
Review the basics of geometrical optics to strengthen your foundation for this course.
Browse courses on
Geometrical Optics
Show steps
-
Read the relevant sections in your textbook or online resources on geometrical optics.
-
Solve practice problems related to geometrical optics.
Read 'Fundamentals of Optics' by Jenkins and White
Show steps
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive textbook on optics.
View
Fundamentals of Optics 1957 [Leather Bound]
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Obtain a copy of 'Fundamentals of Optics' by Jenkins and White.
-
Read the chapters relevant to the course topics.
-
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Follow tutorials on OpticStudio
Show steps
Gain proficiency in using OpticStudio, the industry-standard optical design tool.
Browse courses on
OpticStudio
Show steps
-
Find tutorials on OpticStudio from reliable sources like Zemax or educational institutions.
-
Follow the tutorials step-by-step to learn the software's features and functionality.
-
Practice using OpticStudio to design and analyze optical systems.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Design an optical system using OpticStudio
Show steps
Apply your knowledge to design and analyze an optical system using OpticStudio.
Browse courses on
Optical System Design
Show steps
-
Choose a specific optical system to design, such as a lens or a telescope.
-
Use OpticStudio to create a model of your optical system.
-
Analyze the performance of your optical system using OpticStudio's tools.
-
Optimize the design of your optical system to meet specific requirements.
-
Document your design process and results in a report or presentation.
Solve practice problems on ray tracing
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of ray tracing through practice problems.
Browse courses on
Ray Tracing
Show steps
-
Collect practice problems from textbooks, online resources, or the course materials.
-
Solve the practice problems using the techniques and formulas learned in the course.
-
Check your solutions against provided solutions or consult with the instructor for feedback.
Contribute to open-source optical design projects
Show steps
Gain practical experience and contribute to the optical design community.
Show steps
-
Identify open-source optical design projects on platforms like GitHub or GitLab.
-
Review the project documentation and codebase to understand the project's goals and requirements.
-
Identify areas where you can contribute, such as bug fixes, feature enhancements, or documentation improvements.
-
Make your contributions to the project by submitting pull requests or creating issues.
-
Collaborate with other contributors and the project maintainers to improve the project.
Review geometrical optics
Show steps
Review the basics of geometrical optics to strengthen your foundation for this course.
Browse courses on
Geometrical Optics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the relevant sections in your textbook or online resources on geometrical optics.
- Solve practice problems related to geometrical optics.
Read 'Fundamentals of Optics' by Jenkins and White
Show steps
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive textbook on optics.
View
Fundamentals of Optics 1957 [Leather Bound]
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Obtain a copy of 'Fundamentals of Optics' by Jenkins and White.
- Read the chapters relevant to the course topics.
- Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Follow tutorials on OpticStudio
Show steps
Gain proficiency in using OpticStudio, the industry-standard optical design tool.
Browse courses on
OpticStudio
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find tutorials on OpticStudio from reliable sources like Zemax or educational institutions.
- Follow the tutorials step-by-step to learn the software's features and functionality.
- Practice using OpticStudio to design and analyze optical systems.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Design an optical system using OpticStudio
Show steps
Apply your knowledge to design and analyze an optical system using OpticStudio.
Browse courses on
Optical System Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a specific optical system to design, such as a lens or a telescope.
- Use OpticStudio to create a model of your optical system.
- Analyze the performance of your optical system using OpticStudio's tools.
- Optimize the design of your optical system to meet specific requirements.
- Document your design process and results in a report or presentation.
Solve practice problems on ray tracing
Show steps
Reinforce your understanding of ray tracing through practice problems.
Browse courses on
Ray Tracing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Collect practice problems from textbooks, online resources, or the course materials.
- Solve the practice problems using the techniques and formulas learned in the course.
- Check your solutions against provided solutions or consult with the instructor for feedback.
Contribute to open-source optical design projects
Show steps
Gain practical experience and contribute to the optical design community.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify open-source optical design projects on platforms like GitHub or GitLab.
- Review the project documentation and codebase to understand the project's goals and requirements.
- Identify areas where you can contribute, such as bug fixes, feature enhancements, or documentation improvements.
- Make your contributions to the project by submitting pull requests or creating issues.
- Collaborate with other contributors and the project maintainers to improve the project.
Career center
Learners who complete First Order Optical System Design will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Lens Designer
Lens Designer
Lens Designers design and develop lenses for a wide variety of applications, from eyeglasses and contact lenses to camera lenses and medical imaging systems. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to first-order optical system design, including topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques. This knowledge is essential for Lens Designers to create high-quality lenses that meet specific performance requirements.
Optical Engineer
Optical Engineer
Optical Engineers analyze the behavior of light and design optical systems for a broad range of products, including cameras, telescopes, microscopes, and lasers. This course offers an introduction to geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are foundational concepts in optical system design. By completing this course, you will have built a solid understanding of the principles and techniques used by Optical Engineers in their work.
Optical Technician
Optical Technician
Optical Technicians assist Optical Engineers and Lens Designers in the design, development, and testing of optical systems. This course can provide Optical Technicians with a strong foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing. This knowledge can help them to perform tasks such as building optical systems, aligning optical components, and conducting optical measurements.
Vision Scientist
Vision Scientist
Vision Scientists study the human visual system and develop technologies to improve vision. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Vision Scientists to understand the behavior of light and design optical systems that interact with the human eye. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Vision Scientists to develop corrective lenses and other vision-related technologies.
Imaging Scientist
Imaging Scientist
Imaging Scientists develop and apply imaging technologies to solve problems in various fields, such as medicine, manufacturing, and security. This course provides a foundation in the principles of optical system design, which is essential for Imaging Scientists to understand the behavior of light and design imaging systems that meet specific requirements. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Imaging Scientists to optimize the performance of imaging systems.
Optical Systems Engineer
Optical Systems Engineer
Optical Systems Engineers design, develop, and test optical systems for a wide range of applications, including telecommunications, imaging, and manufacturing. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Optical Systems Engineers to understand the behavior of light and design optical systems that meet specific requirements. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Optical Systems Engineers to optimize the performance of optical systems.
Photonics Engineer
Photonics Engineer
Photonics Engineers design, develop, and test devices and systems that use light to transmit, process, and store information. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Photonics Engineers to understand the behavior of light and design photonic devices and systems that meet specific requirements. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Photonics Engineers to optimize the performance of photonic devices and systems.
Laser Engineer
Laser Engineer
Laser Engineers design, develop, and test lasers for various applications, such as manufacturing, medicine, and telecommunications. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Laser Engineers to understand the behavior of light and design laser systems that meet specific requirements. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Laser Engineers to optimize the performance of laser systems.
Applied Physicist
Applied Physicist
Applied Physicists use the principles of physics to solve problems in various fields, such as optics, electronics, and materials science. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Applied Physicists to understand the behavior of light and design optical systems for their research and applications. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Applied Physicists to optimize the performance of optical systems.
Research Scientist
Research Scientist
Research Scientists conduct research in various fields, including optics, materials science, and engineering. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Research Scientists to understand the behavior of light and design optical systems for their research. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Research Scientists to optimize the performance of optical systems.
Professor
Professor
Professors teach and conduct research in higher education institutions. This course provides a foundation in the principles of geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are essential for Professors to understand the behavior of light and design optical systems for their research and teaching. The course also covers topics such as image formation, lens aberrations, and optimization techniques, which are important for Professors to optimize the performance of optical systems.
Optical Designer
Optical Designer
Optical Designers analyze the behavior of light and design optical systems for a broad range of products, including cameras, telescopes, microscopes, and lasers. This course offers an introduction to geometrical optics and first-order ray tracing, which are fundamental concepts in optical system design. By completing this course, you will build a solid understanding of the principles and techniques used by Optical Designers in their work.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/anh17l/first
Reading list
We've selected 14 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
First Order Optical System Design.
The Handbook of Optics comprehensive and authoritative reference on optical engineering and photonics. While not recommended as a textbook for a specific course, this book useful reference.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the OpticStudio software, which leading tool for optical system design. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the software.
Is another comprehensive textbook on optics, covering a wide range of topics, from geometric optics to wave optics. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the subject in depth.
Wilson's book is often used as a textbook in optical engineering courses at the university level. It provides readers with a foundation in geometrical optics, lens design, and aberration theory, among other topics.
Comprehensive reference on optical system design, covering a wide range of topics, from lens design to optical system optimization. It valuable resource for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
Was intentionally written for optical engineers to serve as a comprehensive reference for optical system design. It serves as a good reference for those who already have a foundation and background knowledge in optics, and frequently need to reference specific formulas or concepts.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of nonlinear optics, from basic concepts to advanced topics. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
Jenkins and White textbook commonly offered at universities as part of a physics program. As such, it contains a wealth of background material and foundational and theoretical knowledge, helpful for audiences with diverse backgrounds.
Provides a comprehensive overview of quantum optics, from basic concepts to advanced topics. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
Provides a clear and concise introduction to geometrical and physical optics. It good choice for students who are new to the field or who want to review the basics.
Provides a detailed introduction to the fundamentals of lens design. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
Provides a practical introduction to the use of Python for optical system design. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of optical fiber communications, from basic concepts to advanced topics. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of lasers and optical engineering, from basic concepts to advanced topics. It good choice for students and professionals who want to learn more about the subject.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/anh17l/first
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Effort
6 weeks of study, 4 - 6 hours/week
Level
Advanced
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
Instructor
Robert McLeod
Language
English
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Optical Engineering. It's comprised of three courses:
- First Order Optical System Design (viewing)
- Optical Efficiency and Resolution
- Design of High-Performance Optical Systems
Good to know
Develops foundational knowledge and intuition necessary for optical system design
Introduces leading industry software, OpticStudio by Zemax, for advanced analysis and optimization
Taught by Robert McLeod, an experienced instructor in the field of optical engineering
May require additional software and hardware for hands-on practice, which may pose financial barriers
Assumes some background knowledge in physics and mathematics, which may require learners to do additional preparatory work
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