Panasonic has announced the development of a brand new far-infrared lens molding technology. It will be utilized for mass-producing far-infrared aspherical lenses to improve camera and sensor performance.
The new lenses are made out of chalcogenide glass, which has “excellent far-infrared transmission characteristics.”
This new glass molding technology allows Panasonic to deliver a range of lenses including diffractive lenses, which is the first highly hermetic frame-integrated lens in the world that does not employ any sort of adhesive.
Using this technology, the company will be able to contribute to the spread enhanced performance of far-infrared sensor modules. This will be done by achieving mass production of high-quality but low-cost far-infrared aspherical lenses.
The new technology is ready to supply chalcogenide lenses, both aspherical and diffractive, already in a number of sizes, ranging from φ3mm to φ40mm. The non-usage of adhesive will allow the production of frame-integrated lenses without risking any sort of gas contamination.
In addition to this, the edge of the lens is safeguarded, improving the accuracy of installation on the lens barrel. This technology enables the development of a highly hermetic barrel-type frame-integrated lens.
Panasonic has begun to accept prototype orders but sales of high-performance and low-cost far-infrared aspherical lenses are set to expand in the near future.
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