New CODE V Release Features Enhanced Environmental Modeling and Meta Optic Design

Multi-Environment Coupling

A key addition to CODE V is the multi-environment coupling capability, which is particularly beneficial for aerospace applications. This feature facilitates modeling and optimization of athermalized spacer-based lens designs across various environmental conditions. It takes into account changes in refractive index and substrate prescription due to varying temperatures, pressures, and mounting links. Furthermore, you can export Multi-Environment Coupling models to LightTools for additional analysis.

Athermalization is crucial in optical design, where the impact of temperature changes on lens mounting is considered. CODE V now includes a new visualization tool in V3D that aids this process. This tool provides an understanding of how the housing interacts with glass elements and their interconnections, without requiring detailed knowledge of the optomechanical mount. 

Meta Optic Design

The 2024.03 release of CODE V also introduces the meta optic design capability. A breakthrough in optical technology, meta optical surfaces are thin, flat surfaces that can augment traditional lenses. These complex surfaces can now be efficiently designed and optimized in CODE V using a diffractive optic property modeling process. Engineers can model and optimize metalenses alongside traditional refractive or reflective designs. Note that this tool is an add-on to CODE V that comes with an additional fee and requires Synopsys Common Licensing.

Enhanced Workflow and Learning Resources

CODE V 2024.03 improves optical design workflow efficiency and expands learning resources. Highlights include:

• Faster image simulation. The 2D Image Simulation (IMS) feature allows designers to simulate imagery produced by the lens defined in CODE V. This release upgrades IMS to provide a significant computational speed enhancement, particularly with machines using multiple processing cores.
• Updated glass catalog files: Hikari, Hoya, Ohara, and Schott. 
• Example model library. The models help you explore CODE V’s extensive design and analysis capabilities through practical examples, such as a compact freeform reflective system, pixel headlamp, performance-based coatings, and much more. 
• CODE V now provides a macro, TEIJINPRV.SEQ, that users can run to generate a private catalog of Teijin Special Polycarbonate (PC) Resin Panlite plastics.

Improved Interoperability

The transfer of data from CODE V to the RSoft Photonic Design Tools and LightTools has been enhanced. These interoperability improvements support a smoother and more integrated workflow for meta optical surface design and multi-environment coupling analysis.