This section provides an overview for fresnel lenses as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 fresnel lens manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked fresnel lens companies as of November, 2024: 1.ORAFOL Fresnel Optics GmbH, 2.Fresnel Technologies, 3.Laurel Industries.
Table of Contents
Fresnel lenses differ from ordinary spherical or aspherical lenses as they are flat and feature numerous concentric grooves engraved on one side of a plastic sheet.
The cross-section resembles the teeth of a saw. The name "Fresnel" originates from Augustin Jean Fresnel, a 19th-century French physicist who invented this type of lens.
Compared to conventional lenses, Fresnel lenses are lighter and thinner, resulting in cost savings.
Fresnel lenses are frequently employed when large lenses are needed, owing to their lightweight characteristics.
Historically, Fresnel lenses were used in lighthouses, where very large lenses were required, but traditional lenses would have been exceedingly thick and heavy. Nowadays, Fresnel lenses are also used as illumination lenses for camera flashes and viewfinder field lenses in single-lens and twin-lens reflex cameras.
They are also utilized in simpler magnification devices like loupes and magnifying glasses.
The grooves on Fresnel lenses are crucial for their optical function, similar to regular optical lenses.
In a conventional curved lens, incident light is refracted to form an image. In contrast, Fresnel lenses use their grooves to refract and focus incoming light. This allows thinner and lighter Fresnel lenses to achieve similar or better light-collecting capabilities compared to traditional lenses.
By adjusting the groove depth and quantity, it's possible to achieve a shorter focal length than the aperture diameter, a feat not achievable with typical spherical lenses.
The majority of Fresnel lenses are constructed from materials such as glass or resin (acrylic, polystyrene, polycarbonate).
Acrylic Fresnel lenses are popular due to their high transmittance in the visible and ultraviolet spectra, while polycarbonate lenses are used in harsh environments due to their exceptional impact and heat resistance.
Despite being thinner and lighter, Fresnel lenses have drawbacks in terms of image formation compared to singlet lenses. This is primarily because the grooves on Fresnel lenses are visible, and they introduce diffraction effects, causing light leakage in nearby regions and resulting in blurred images.
However, it's worth noting that diffraction, although considered a disadvantage in some cases, can be advantageous. Diffractive lenses actively exploit diffraction phenomena for specific applications.
Fresnel lenses and diffractive lenses share similar structures, often leading to confusion, but their underlying physical phenomena differ.
Fresnel lenses find applications in various fields, with LED lighting being a prominent example. In recent years, they have been used as condenser lenses for solar panels, projector screens, optical sensors, and more.
When employed as lighting lenses, Fresnel lenses are often used to emit collimated light by placing a light source at the focal distance position. They are ideal for soft and controlled illumination of specific areas, commonly used in stage lighting and outdoor events.
While they may not match singlet lenses in image formation, they exemplify the use of diffraction to achieve distinct optical effects.
Linear Fresnel lenses are akin to Fresnel lenses for illumination. While Fresnel lenses are spherical with concentric grooves, linear Fresnel lenses are cylindrical lenses arranged in a plane. They are suited for collecting and diffusing light in a single direction, making them suitable for linear light sources.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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ORAFOL Fresnel Optics GmbH is based in Apolda, Thuringia, Germany, and is a manufacturer of nano and micro polymer-fabricated optical components that was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of ORAFOL Europe GmbH. The company primarily produces optical goods such as Fresnel cylindrical lenses, Fresnel beam splitters, and corner cube retro-reflectors. It also offers custom design, engineering, and fabrication services for unique customer projects. The company chiefly serves its customers in Europe’s display, lighting, and solar industries.
Fresnel Technologies, founded in 1986 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, is a manufacturer of advanced micro-optics and optical products. The company offers a diverse range of product varieties, including Fresnel lenses, diffraction gratings, micro-optics arrays, and custom optical solutions. These products provide benefits such as enhanced light control, optimal size, and improved optical performance. The offerings find applications in industries like telecommunications, imaging, lighting, and displays, enabling advanced optical solutions for various industrial challenges. It specializes in molded plastic Fresnel lenses, and molded polymer optics that transmit infrared light, ranging from production, tooling, prototyping, diamond machining, and design support.
Laurel Industries is a manufacturer of standard and custom optical instruments, founded in 1976, and headquartered in Highland Park, Illinois. They offer lenses, optical elements, prisms, wedges, crystal optics, and more. These products are used in various industries and applications such as photography, microscopy, laser technology, and more, providing precise light control, manipulation, and redirection for industries requiring optical precision. Its products are utilized in photoelectric controls, night vision systems, weapon systems, laser alignment, scanning systems, and others.
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Murata Manufacturing) was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Nagaokakyo, Japan. Murata Manufacturing designs, manufactures, and sells ceramic-based passive electronic components and solutions globally. The company operates through components, modules, and others segments, serving communications, mobility, industrial, healthcare, and personal electronics customers. They company's product offerings include noise suppression products, quartz devices,RFID devices, phase shifters, and wireless connectivity platforms. Services such as webinars and video library are also available for existing and potential customers alike.
Fujian Jinghui Environmental Technology Co., Ltd established in 2006 in Fuzhou, China, is a manufacturer of eco-friendly cooling and heating products. The company offers a diverse range of products, including eco-friendly air coolers, infrared heaters, and portable air coolers. These products provide benefits such as energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced user comfort. The eco-friendly air coolers and portable air coolers are ideal for residential, commercial, and industrial spaces, offering efficient and cost-effective cooling solutions. The infrared heaters deliver targeted warmth and comfort, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Jenoptik was established in 1991 and is based in Jena, Germany, as a manufacturer of optical technologies with majority of their products and services being provided to the photonics market. The company's products portfolio includes imaging solutions and cameras, laser and laser technology, optics and optical systems, and LiDAR technologies, which are mainly used in industries such as, semiconductor and equipment manufacturing, automotive, medical technology, security and defense technology, and aviation.
Fran Optics, established in 2004 in Fujian, China, is a manufacturer of a comprehensive range of advanced optics products, including Freshnel lenses. The company specializes in manufacturing various products, including AR & VR lenses, lidar windows, optical domes, optical mold cores, and HUD imaging mirrors and reflectors. These products offer benefits such as precise light control, advanced optical clarity, and durability. The offerings cater to various industries, including telecommunications, imaging systems, laser technology, and scientific research. It specializes in nano-scale and micro-scale optical surfaces for making key optical products for commercial purposes.
MUHWA Industrial Co., Ltd., established in 1981 in Taipei, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of a comprehensive range of professional lens integrated solutions. The company manufactures a diverse array of product varieties, including freshnel lenses, precision lenses, optical modules, and imaging systems. These offerings offer benefits such as superior image quality, enhanced optical performance, and optimal functionality. The products find applications in various industries, including photography, medical imaging, industrial inspection, and more. It offers premium optical solutions that assist in advancements in imaging and optical technology, serving the needs of industries that rely on precision optics for their operations.
Hengwen Optics Components Company, established in 1998 in Nanjing, China, is a manufacturer of precision optical components. The company offers a diverse range of product varieties, including fresnel lenses, prisms, filters, and mirrors, all created with precision. These components provide benefits such as improved optical performance, enhanced light control, and compatibility with various optical systems. The products find applications in industries such as telecommunications, medical devices, aerospace, and scientific research, supporting advanced optical systems and technologies. It offers optimal-performance optical solutions to a global customer base, assisting in advancements in optics and various industries.
WeProFab, established in 2006 with facilities and offices in China, is a custom manufacturer and provider of plastic and rubber fabrication services to OEM and ODM customers. Some of the company's manufacturing services include the production of polycarbonate windshields, polycarbonate window panels, acrylic signs, rubber mats, and PVC products for original equipment manufacturers. The company uses a variety of compounds to meet client requirements, including silicone, polyurethane, urethane, neoprene, and butyl. WeProFab capabilities and services include plastic injection molding, plastic extrusion, CNC cutting, 5-axis machining, and thermoforming to manufacture different levels of plastic components.
NTKJ Co., Ltd., founded in 1974 with headquarters in Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of plastic lenses. The company's products include Fresnel lenses, lenticular lenses, sheet prisms, linear Fresnel lenses, and microlens arrays. NTKJ Co., Ltd. serves the lighting, sensing, imaging, and medical markets, among many others. The company's products are found in display backlighting, LiDAR technology, cameras, projectors, and head-up display devices. NTKJ Co., Ltd. also provides custom lens molding and manufacturing to meet client-specific requirements.
Shanghai Optics, established in China, is a custom manufacturer of optical components and a custom designer and engineering provider of optical components, lenses, and assemblies. The company produces its own range of products that include stock microscope objectives, fixed focal length lenses, stock IR lenses, and megapixel lenses used in applications such as scientific and laboratory equipment, smartphones, cameras, and other requirements from OEM customers around the world. The company's services include full production at high and lower volumes, prototyping, free quotes, and custom product design consultations.
Okamoto Glass Co. Ltd., founded in 1928 and based in Chiba, Japan, is a manufacturer of special-purpose glass and multi-layer film evaporation products. The company is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and its product portfolio includes glass molded items like automotive interior glass parts, LiDAR cover glass, and washing machine door glass. It also stocks glass materials like sight glass, borosilicate, and low-expansion glass ceramic, and some of its glass powders include UV reflective resist ink and phosphor in glass. The company forms glass using direct press molding, which enables it to control temperatures and adjust various molding conditions.
Knight Optical is a company that manufactures optical components based in the UK. The company offers services such as design, consultancy, custom packaging, testing, quality assurance, and others. They serve a wide number of industries including scientific, defense, medical, pharmaceutical, laser engineering and manufacturing. They also provide a wide range of coating capabilities for optical components throughout the ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) spectra.They are ISO9001:2015 and ISO14001:2015 accredited and are providing quality products and services.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | ORAFOL Fresnel Optics GmbH |
51.5%
|
2 | Fresnel Technologies |
10.2%
|
3 | Laurel Industries |
6.7%
|
4 | Fujian Jinghui Environmental Technology Co., Ltd |
5.1%
|
5 | FRAN |
4.6%
|
6 | JENOPTIK AG |
4.5%
|
7 | MUHWA Industrial Co., Ltd. |
4.2%
|
8 | Knight Optical |
3.0%
|
9 | Weprofab |
2.5%
|
10 | Hengwen Optics Components Company |
2.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the fresnel lens page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 4 | 33.3% |
Japan | 3 | 25.0% |
Germany | 2 | 16.7% |
United States of America | 2 | 16.7% |
Taiwan | 1 | 8.3% |
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