Theia has leveraged its patented, award winning Linear Optical Technology platform to offer optical distortion correction in its new ML183M, the C mount version of its popular SL183 varifocal lens. Designed for 1/3” (6.0mm) to 1/ 2.5” (7.2mm) image sensors with resolution up to five megapixels, the lens will provide from 77 to 115 degrees horizontal field of view, with less than 1% barrel distortion.
Theia has leveraged its patented, award winning Linear Optical Technology platform to offer optical distortion correction in its new ML183M, the C mount version of its popular SL183 varifocal lens. Designed for 1/3” (6.0mm) to 1/ 2.5” (7.2mm) image sensors with resolution up to five megapixels, the lens will provide from 77 to 115 degrees horizontal field of view, with less than 1% barrel distortion.
Theia's Linear Optical Technology optically corrects the barrel or fisheye distortion typical of other wide lenses keeping straight lines straight without the use of software. Theia's patented distortion correction technology also enables increased resolution at the edge of the image compared to typical wide lenses which compress the image, losing information. This increases the probability of recognition of objects at the edge of the image.
The new varifocal lens will allow C mount camera users in the machine vision, automation, security, and broadcast markets more flexibility in wide coverage of an area, fine tuning wide fields of view, and camera placement – all without the need for de-warping software. The lens has a pan focus distance from 1 meter to infinity with a minimum object distance of 0.5 meter. At a compact length of only 45mm from the C mount, the lens can fit within a small, restricted envelope. These unique features make the lens suitable for applications requiring peripheral vision and situational awareness such as robotics, stereo applications, as well as wide angle shots at short distances.
In addition, the ML183M lens is IR corrected to focus crisply in both visible and near infrared (IR) light without having to re-focus the camera. The lens focuses the visible and near IR spectrum - from UV at 435 nm to IR at 850 nm – onto a single image plane. This is helpful in applications such as IR selective tracking systems and capturing detailed images in dark, IR illuminated areas making it well suited for the machine vision and security industries.
And the lens increases convenience with its EasyZoom feature which allows the user to set focus once with minimal refocus needed when zooming or changing field of view. The C mount lens is available with a manual iris. “Our new ML183M varifocal lens will add functionality in the security, machine vision and other industries, providing our patented distortion correction technology in a compact, full functionality lens. The lens is unique because it is the only one to offer this combination of capabilities. It combines C mount with 5 megapixel resolution, an un-distorted wide angle image, Day/Night IR correction, and EasyZoom capability, - all in a compact varifocal lens”, says Jeff Gohman, President and co-founder of Theia Technologies.