company news about Diversified Applications and Selection Guide for Lenses

Diversified Applications and Selection Guide for Lenses

‌01 Definition and Applications of Lenses

‌
Lenses are optical components that alter the distribution of light beams through refraction and total reflection, modifying light output characteristics such as efficiency and beam patterns. Their performance depends on design precision, manufacturing accuracy, and material choices. In lighting systems, lenses are essential for compact sources like LEDs, often replacing or complementing reflectors to optimize illumination.

‌02 Lens Materials‌

‌Traditional vs. Modern Materials‌
Originally, lenses were primarily made of glass with spherical designs, but advancements in transparent polymers (e.g., plastics) and LED technology have shifted preferences toward plastic aspherical lenses. Common optical plastics include PMMA (acrylic), PC (polycarbonate), and PS (polystyrene), while AS, CR39, ABS, MS, PA, PVC, or PU are less frequently used for lower-demand applications.

‌Glass vs. Plastic Comparison‌
Glass lenses offer high light transmittance (up to 97%) and excellent weather resistance but are brittle and challenging to shape into aspherical forms. In contrast, optical plastics provide lower transmittance and durability but are shatter-resistant, easily molded into complex shapes like aspherical lenses, and cost-effective for mass production.58

‌03 Fresnel Lenses‌

‌Development and Features‌
Invented by French physicist Augustin Fresnel in 1822, Fresnel lenses (or threaded lenses) were initially used in lighthouses to project light over distances up to 20 miles. Their unique concentric-ring structure minimizes material weight while achieving equivalent focusing effects to conventional convex lenses, transitioning from glass to plastic for modern applications.8

‌Application Fields‌
Fresnel lenses produce near-parallel, highly concentrated beams ideal for spotlighting, such as in stage lighting and automotive headlights. They are less common in outdoor illumination due to their focused output but excel in targeted scenarios like spotlights.8

‌04 Refractive Lenses‌

‌Applications in LED Lighting‌
Refractive lenses are widely used in LED fixtures, such as spotlights and flashlights, to generate uniform circular light spots. Optimized through aspherical designs and non-imaging optical principles, they ensure even light distribution for functional illumination.9

‌05 TIR-R Lenses‌

‌Features and Applications‌
TIR-R (Total Internal Reflection-Refraction) lenses combine reflection and refraction to meet complex light-distribution needs, making them versatile for LED lamps like "peanut" lenses. Typically designed as aspherical shapes using non-imaging techniques, they enable precise beam control.9

‌Surface Treatment Methods‌
To reduce glare, lens surfaces undergo treatments such as frosting or prismatic faceting (e.g., spherical or hexagonal honeycomb patterns). Designs vary, including elliptical lenses for flattering effects, though interchangeability across manufacturers is limited due to evolving customization.29