UK-based Resolve Optics has reported that its non-browning lenses are helping a specialist camera manufacturer to supply a turnkey solution for monitoring remote operations in high radiation environments.
"Our radiation resistant cameras are used in a growing number applications within the nuclear power industry and large scale physics facilities," said Tony Moon of Custom Cameras Ltd, based in Wells, UK. "In designing cameras for these applicactions, we have to consider the tolerance to radiation of all components as well as the overall design."
For the high radiation environments experienced in nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel recycling facilities, conventional TV cameras and lenses have a very short life due to radiation damage.
"We choose to use fixed focus and zoom non-browning lenses from Resolve Optics because of their in-depth knowledge of the requirements of optics used in a nuclear environment, willingness and ability to adapt designs to suit customer requirements, excellent technical support and competitive pricing,” Moon added.
Resolve Optics has developed a range of non-browning (radiation resistant) zoom lenses for use in environments subject to radiation.
All optical elements within Resolve Optics' non-browning lens designs are made using cerium oxide doped glass or synthetic silica enabling them to withstand radiation doses of up to 100,000,000 rads and temperatures up to 55°C without discolouration or degradation of performance. All the company's radiation resistant lenses provide high image resolution and minimum geometric distortion from 400 to 750nm. Its range includes:
- The Model 290 motorised non-browning zoom lens is a direct replacement for the Fujinon 12-72mm (6x) non browning zoom lens, which is no longer manufactured.
- The Model 200 extremely compact 3x non-browning zoom lens uses cerium-doped glass and provides high image resolution, a close focus of 50mm and minimum geometric distortion from 400-750nm.
- The Model 192 is a compact non-browning 6× zoom lens proven in applications requiring radiation resistance including medicine, academia, space exploration and nuclear power generation plants. The lens is designed for use with CCTV cameras, and with Newvicon and Chalnicon tubes.
- The Model 357 is a new generation non-browning 10x zoom lens uniquely able to produce clear, sharp images free of the strong yellow tint that has traditionally been a limiting issue when using radiation resistant lenses on colour sensors. Operating at f/3.6, the 2/3-inch format Model 357 provides high image resolution and minimum geometric distortion from 400 to 770nm, and can image objects from 1.5m to infinity without using add-on adapters.
