Optical elements

Diffraction gratings and DOEs (Diffractive Optical Elements) are optical components that efficiently shape and distribute laser light, enabling bright, high-resolution image projection. By combining NSG's proprietary sol-gel glass materials with precision imprint technology, these components achieve over 90% optical efficiency along with outstanding durability and reliability. Their excellent resistance to heat and high-power lasers makes them well suited for next-generation laser TVs and projectors, helping deliver higher brightness, improved image quality, and enhanced optical performance.

Lens-on-Wafer (LoW) is a wafer-level optics technology that forms lenses directly on semiconductor wafers. Using NSG's imprint technology, highly precise optical elements can be formed simultaneously across large-area substrates up to 8 inches in diameter, eliminating the need for complex alignment processes. In addition, the manufacturing process is optimized for thin-profile designs and mass production, ensuring stable quality. With high reliability that enables compatibility with reflow processes up to 330°C, LoW contributes to the mass production of compact, high-performance optical devices used in smartphones, sensing equipment, and communication devices.

Sensors with optical elements are increasingly applied to smartphones, automatic driving of automobiles, automatic transport robots, and drones. Optical elements are being used for proximity and distance sensors for smartphones and lighting device for the peripheral monitoring sensor of mobility. Optical diffuser developed by NSG diffuses laser beam from a light source, and achieves optical distribution fitting sensitivity distribution of sensors. The optical diffuser is proposed as an optical element that is environmentally durable and able to adjust the light uniformly to sensors.

Advanced optical control by optical elements is desired in various fields, such as optical communication, IT, healthcare, automobile, and FA. There are needs to collect light from the light-emitting elements and efficiently couple with the core and sensor of small optical fiber, as well as to diffuse light with specific angle and intensity distribution for the use of optical sensing. Micro Lens Array developed by NSG is a product that has a continuous arrangement of micrometer-size lenses, where shape, size, and arrangement of lenses can be designed for each type of use. It is widely used to aggregate and diffuse light. NSG is developing optical elements with superior optical control and environmental durability/mass production workability by combining optical design technology cultivated through the development and the production of optronics products and organic–inorganic hybrid technology of glass and resin.

In the field of optical communication where high-speed/high-capacity/long-distance transmission is necessary, compact and easy-to-design coupler and splitter are required. These are to couple optical fibers or optical fiber and semiconductor elements without decay, and to transmit various types of optical beams without disturbing the phase in a narrow space. SELFOC^® Micro Lens, a micro lens with a short focal length, developed by NSG, solves issues associated with light transmission and coupling optical fibers, and contributes to improve performance in optical communication.