Optics and photonics, 3D measurement by Sensofar

NEWS

Launch of the new Aspherics Optical Profiler: PLu apex at the Control show

The PLu apex is an Aspherics Optical Profiler based in the development of a non-contact metrology tool to profile aspheric lenses and free-form surfaces. The name is coming from different origins but is remarkable the meaning of the word itself that identify the highest point in a lens. The associated measurement software will be SensoTRACK.
This new system complements the Sensofar optical profilers product line and represents an opportunity to provide solutions for new markets related to optical lenses manufacturing market such us Blu-ray and DVD optics, cell phones and PDA's cameras lenses, digital camera and projectors lenses, fiber coupling lenses and photolithography lenses.
The system will be launched to the market at the Control show in Stuttgart (4th - 7th May) were we expect to perform demonstrations for all our partners as well as for possible future customers
We expect to see a good response from the market as, even though there are a number of metrology solutions already available from different suppliers, none of them fully meet up with customer requirements. Current technologies are contact-based (destructive) and expensive, while the plu APEX will be the first non-contact profiler in the market at a competitive price without any sacrifice in performance.

Sensofar introduces their most advanced Optical 3D profiler: the PLu neox

• Microdisplay based Confocal / Interferometry Optical Profiler
• Color CCD Camera (Metrological BW CCD, and Color CCD)
• Dual Vertical Scanner (large range motorized stage, and high resolution Piezo Stage)
• Integrated Spectroscopic Reflectometer for Thin film applications
• Dual LED Light Source
• Compact, robust, and modular design

The PLu neox is the most advanced Optical Profiler from Sensofar. Based on the successful series of PLu optical profilers, the neox covers the broadest range of applications on 3D and Thin film metrology due to the combination of Confocal Scanning, Phase Shift Interferometry, Vertical Scanning Interferometry and Spectroscopic Reflectometry. This powerful combination allows for fast 2d and 3d analysis of technical surfaces with less than 0.1nm vertical resolution, the capability to measure steep slopes over 70 degrees on smooth surfaces, and Thin film metrology with less than 1 nm of resolution.
Sensofar has also incorporated their patented scanning micro-display technology enabling fast confocal scanning for up to 12.5 confocal images per second. Improved confocal and interferometry algorithms allow vertical scanning speeds of up to 800 micrometers/sec, giving typical measurement times including calculations of less than 5 seconds. The Plu neox incorporates two vertical scanners: a Piezo based scanner for high resolution 3D measures down to 0.01 nm, and a large vertical scanner with more than 40 mm measuring range. The Plu neox comes with a fully automated xy mapping stage handling sample up to 500 mm². And with over 50 Nikon lenses to choose from with magnification from 2.5x up to 200x the range of applications are limitless.
Tool operation and recipe creation is performed using SensoSCAN software which includes a comprehensive set of 2d 3d data analysis and viewing tools. For advanced characterisation and data reporting SensoMAP, based on Mountains Technology from Digital surf, offers intuitive state of the art analytical software featuring different views, surface operators and international areal surface standards.
In the PLu neox the team at Sensofar have integrated advanced optics and technologies creating a powerful 3d profiler and thin film analysis tool able to cope with a diverse range of surface metrology applications.
Sensofar will be demonstrating the PLu neox at different shows during the next months. We look forward to meeting with you!

Download Catalogue PLu_neox (PDF)

Sensofar to become a founding member or the SECPhO:
Southern European cluster in optics and photonics

<Terrassa (Barcelona) May 2009>
Organizers have announced the establishment of the Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics, or SECPhO, a new group of companies and R&D centers that will work to improve the competitiveness of optics and photonics in the Spanish sector.
The Spanish sector involves more than 110 enterprises employing more than 7000 people, with total revenues near 1.300 M €. Cluster members will work to develop new technological applications to transfer them to the industry or create cutting-edge technology spin-offs.
SECPhO represents a broad range of companies and research centers. Members participating in SECPhO include Easy-Laser, Ficosa, Hamamatsu, Indra, Lamp, Macsa, Monocrom, Radiantis, Sensofar, UPC (Polytechnic University of Catalonia), and CD6 (Research Centre for Sensor, Instrument and Systems Development).
Sensofar’s General Manager M. Canales is a founding member and sits on SECPhO's Strategic Committee (as Vice-President of the board).
The cluster's product portfolio includes optical systems used in photographic and video cameras, optical instrumentation (microscopes, telescopes, metrology instrumentation and ophthalmic optics), and the latest sensors based on optoelectronics devices, new light sources (LEDs, OLEDs, etc), lasers, optical fibres and photonics' new applications, linked to quantum light aspects.
The new cluster is supported by the Catalonian government and the Spanish Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
The group's action plan identifies several key areas to develop:
• Collaborative R+D projects
• Manufacturing improvement
• Commercialization and internationalization activities
• International cluster visibility
• Companies' strategy reinforcement
• Human resources specialization in optics and photonics
• Networking activities between cluster members and third parties

ForthDD at the heart of Sensofar's innovative imaging profiler

Although Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD) are recognised as the world's leading microdisplay supplier to the premium near to eye display market, it is less well known that they successfully supply to a number of high technology companies producing innovative, leading edge applications in markets not generally associated with microdisplays. One such company is Sensofar-Tech of Barcelona, Spain. One of Sensofar’s most successful products is the PLµ 2300 imaging profiler which combines both confocal and interferometry techniques in a single sensor head - an attribute which is unique to Sensofar's product. The advantage of this dual technique is that it covers the highest number of measurable surfaces by combining a low magnification interferential objective (from 2.5X to 50X) with a high magnification confocal objective (from 10X to 200X) in a single tool. At the heart of each Sensofar PLµ 2300 you will find a microdisplay manufactured by Forth Dimension Displays.
The SXGA microdisplay is just part of the enabling technology required by the PLµ 2300 and the integration of a microdisplay technology into the application could only be achieved by a company who had in-depth knowledge of their own IP and access to the microdisplay driver algorithms and timings.
ForthDD Engineering Manager Calum Dewar explained "the Sensofar application is quite different from a near to eye system or any other traditional microdisplay application. The fundamental operation of the microdisplay had to be radically altered to perform to the specification that Sensofar demanded. By working closely with Sensofar engineers and listening to their requirements, we were able to deliver to this need in a timely and cost effective manner". The next step for ForthDD and Sensofar is the integration of the forthcoming SXGA-3DM product. European Sales Manager Dave Vettese continued "When the SXGA-3DM specification consultancy exercise concluded and the SXGA-3DM product was conceived, I had one question: will it work for Sensofar? Our engineers immediately replied with a 'yes'". Sensofar will be one of the first companies to receive the SXGA-3DM when it is made available later this year. The 3DM product will continue to offer the exact timings and algorithms which are special to the Sensofar requirement but will also give the added benefit of a small simple microdisplay system without the video interface (superfluous to Sensofar) with triggers and signals to ensure complete synchronisation of the microdisplay with the Sensofar system. The future for Sensofar and ForthDD will no doubt be linked by a common intention to achieve success through providing innovative solutions. By providing the SXGA-3DM ForthDD will continue to be at the heart of the Sensofar product.

SENSOFAR Wins Photonics Spectra’s 2004 Circle of Excellence Award

Terrassa (Barcelona – Spain), January 25, 2005 – Sensofar- Tech, SL was honored with the 2004 Photonics Circle of Excellence Award, which is bestowed only to «the most technically innovative products of the year». The award ceremony was held on the 24th of January 2005, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, CA, during 2005 Photonics West. Sensofar was recognized for its innovative PLu 2300: Optical Imaging Profiler, whose patented technology consists of a Dual-Technology sensor head that combines both confocal and interferometry techniques for non-contact measurement of the micro- and nano-geometry of technical surfaces. The use of micro display technology and high power LED illumination on the Optical Imaging Profiler PLu 2300 results in a significant breakthrough in non-contact optical profiling embodying a perfect combination of confocal microscopy, phase shift interferometry and vertical scanning interferometry in the same instrument, and offering a complete solution for a wide range of applications, such as: high aspect ratios and steep samples (MEMS), low reflective and rough surfaces (paper), nanoroughness and nano-features on dissimilar material samples (Semicon industry) or high local slopes in optically smooth and low reflective surfaces (micro-optics/micro-lenses), etc... The product outperforms all existing systems through a unique combination of innovative technologies. In addition, it has a compact and robust design making the PLu 2300 a complete tool which is ideal for obtaining a fast, non-invasive assessment of the micro- and nano-geometry of technical surfaces in multiple configurations: from a standard setup for R&D and quality inspection laboratories to a manipulator or robot driven system for online process controls and OEM applications. «We are very honored to have been selected for this award. We understand the award as recognition of our continuous innovation effort,» said Ferran Laguarta, president of Sensofar. «The 2004 Photonics Circle of Excellence Award also confirms our position in the market and it will help us to reach the 30% market share of general purpose optical profilers». Sensofar-Tech, SL is a spin-off company from the Technical University of Catalonia – Spain (UPC) whose mission is to successfully develop, produce and commercialize optical metrology tools and provide consulting within the field of optical metrology effectively using the philosophies of high quality, advanced techniques and accurate customer services. Founded in 2001, Sensofar is based in Terrassa (Barcelona – Spain) and has a team of international distributors covering the majority of the market.

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FAIRS

		Semicom Korea 2009 Seoul, Korean / 20. - 22.01.2009 Kimsoptec
		Nano Tech 2009 Tokio, Japan / 18. - 20.02.2009 Sensofar Japan
		FineTech 2009 Tokio, Japan / 15. - 17.04.2009 Sensofar
		Control 2009 Stuttgart, Germany / 05. - 08.05.2009 Sensofar
		EPMT 2009 Lausanne, CH / 12. - 15.05.2009 Schaefer CH
		LED Expo 2009 Kintex, Korea /20. - 23.05.2009 Kimsoptec
		EMRS Strasbourg, France /08. - 12.06.2009 Scientec
		Chembio 2009 Munich, Germany / 15. – 18.06.2009 Schaefer GmbH
		Laser 2009 Oslo, Norway/ 15. - 19.06.2009 Schaefer CH
		Nanomat 2009 Oslo, Norway/ 15. - 19.06.2009 Schaefer CH
		Micromachine 2009 Tokio, Japan / 29. - 31.07.2009 Sensofar Japan
		Materiallica 2009 Munich, Germany / 13. – 15.10.2009 Schaefer GmbH
		MM LIVE 2009 Coventry, UK / 20. – 21.10.2009 Sensofar
		CMOI 2009 Reims, France /16. - 21.11.2009 Scientec
		PHOTONIC JAPAN 2010 Tokio, Japan /20. - 22.01.2010 Booth 8-21 (East)
		PHOTONIC WEST 2010 San Franciso, California, USA /23. - 28.01.2010 Booth 5402 (North Hall) Sensofar
		CONTROL 2010 Stuttgart, Germany /04. - 07.05.2010 booth 1069 Hall 1 Sensofar
		OPTATEC 2010 Frankfurt, Germany /15. - 18.06.2010 Sensofar