optical axis


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Related to optical axis: focal length, visual axis

optical axis

The imaginary line passing through the midpoint of a lens, mirror, or system of such elements and on which lies the focal point of parallel paraxial rays.

Optical Axis

 

The optical axis of a lens or a concave or convex mirror is the straight line that is the axis of symmetry of the refracting surfaces of the lens or of the reflecting surface of the mirror. It passes perpendicularly through the center of these surfaces. Optical surfaces that have such an axis are said to be axially symmetric. The optical axis of an optical system is the common axis of symmetry of all the lenses and mirrors in the system.

optical axis

[′äp·tə·kəl ′ak·səs]
(anatomy)
An imaginary straight line passing through the midpoint of the cornea (anterior pole) and the midpoint of the retina (posterior pole).
(optics)
A line passing through a radially symmetrical optical system such that rotation of the system about this line does not alter it in any detectable way.
optic axis

optical axis

An imaginary line drawn from the geometric center of a film to the center of a lens. It may project beyond the lens. Also called a lens axis and a camera axis
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References in periodicals archive ?
The use of laser telemeter leads also to the increase of accuracy which permits continuous measurement and maintenance of the distance between spectral source of emission and spectrometer, with the same telemeter being possible to centre the optical axis of spectrometer on the maximum spectral emission zone.
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instant position of the characteristic point relative to the intersection of the optical axis of the sensor with the characteristic point plane [x.
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Highly reliable sleeve mechanism enables connection of an objective lens unit and prism unit to minimise optical axis deviation;
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The emergent laser beam has to remain parallel to the optical axis (O.
Contribution to the development of optical scanners with rotating or oscillating elements
The unit detects and calculates a range and direction of the impulse sound source; slews the camera to align its optical axis with a direction of the impulse sound; determines whether the impulse sound was a gunshot; records images of the source area; and alerts neighboring units to initiate recording of images.
PSI enters into a Licensing Agreement with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) for Gunshot Digital Imaging System, US Patent Number 6,965,541
Beyond this lens there is on the optical axis focal point D as the common point of the lens K and the objective O1.
The defectoscopy of visualized transparent polymeric foils
These lightweight lenses have external exit pupils and can be used to select arbitrary focal length, match spot size to detector size, align a laser beam to the axis of a lens assembly and accurately collimate light exiting an optical fiber in a parallel direction to the optical axis.
APA Optics, Inc. Enters Product Manufacturing with Debut of Line of Fiber Optic Communications Components
The system delivers precise, reliable optical axis alignment, and it is easy to operate.
Canon U.S.A. Introduces 3D Lens for the Popular XL1 Digital Video Camcorder
This new invention describes a method for uniquely and unambiguously aligning a patient's visual line of sight to the optical axis of an ophthalmic instrument such as may be used in laser surgery or diagnostics.
PHOENIX LASER SYSTEMS FILES U.S. PATENT FOR OPHTHALMIC WORKSTATION

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