Hyperhemisphere Dome Lens
Hyperhemisphere Dome Lens
Hyper‑Hemispherical Dome Lens with Flange — Product Overview
A Hyper‑Hemispherical Dome Lens with Flange is a precision optical domedesigned to provide a clear, undistorted field of view between two environments while protecting sensitive optical systems. These domes are unique optical elements composed of two parallel hemispheric (or beyond hemispheric) surfaces, engineered so that they introduce no optical effect themselves, acting instead as robust windows for cameras and sensors.
Key Features & Benefits
Optical & Mechanical Design
Geometry: Hyper‑hemispherical shape with flange for secure mounting.
Optical Behavior: Designed to maintain a wide field of view with minimal aberrations, correcting visual distortion especially in environments where refractive index changes (e.g., water vs. air).
Material Options: Common substrates include BK7 optical glass, fused silica, sapphire, and other advanced optical materials suited for UV, visible, and IR applications.
Surface Finish: High precision polished surfaces with typical quality grades such as 60‑40, 80‑50, or better depending on requirements.
Coatings: Optional anti‑reflection (AR), broadband AR (BBAR), DLC, hydrophobic, and custom coatings available for enhanced transmission and environmental resistance.Advantages of Hyperhemisphere Dome Lens
Wide Angular Field & Low Distortion
Hyper‑hemispherical domes extend beyond a simple hemisphere to maximize field of view and minimize optical aberrations over a wide angle, making them suitable for systems where large acceptance angles are critical.
High Transmission & Durability
Depending on material choice:
Sapphire versions: Excellent transmission from VIS through IR range (approximately 150 nm – 5500 nm), high hardness, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and broad thermal operation range.
Glass/fused silica versions: Good optical clarity and cost‑effective for visible and UV applications.
Multi‑Environment Protection
The dome shape provides a protective barrier against harsh external conditions such as saltwater, sand erosion, deep‑sea pressure, and high‑pressure environments, while preserving optical performance.
Specifications
| Outer Diameter | ~1 mm – 600 mm (standard ranges up to ~300 mm, with sapphire variants up to ~600 mm) |
| Thickness | ~0.2 mm – 50 mm, depending on material and diameter |
| Dimension Tolerance | ±0.01 mm – ±0.05 mm (customer specified) |
| Material Options | BK7, Fused Silica, Sapphire, Ge (Germanium), Si (Silicon), ZnSe (Zinc Selenide), and more |
| Clear Aperture | > 90% of the dome surface |
| Surface Quality | 20-10 to 80-50 Scratch/Dig (depending on application requirements) |
Applications
Hyper‑Hemispherical Dome Lenses are used in a variety of high‑performance imaging and sensing systems:
Underwater photography and split‑level imaging (corrects refraction‑related aberrations).
Subsea and deep ocean exploration cameras.
Defense and aerospace sensor windows for IR and visible wavelengths.
Industrial vision systems requiring robust, wide‑angle, high‑clarity protection.