Industry Event
Vision Tech: Delivering a Constant Field-of-View Focusing Solution that Meets AI-based Imaging Requirements in Industrial and Machine Vision Application
21 January 2026 • 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM PST | West Expo Stage 2 (Moscone West, Exhibit Level)
The industrial machine vision market is projected to reach USD $7.8 billion by 20291, based on AI-driven imaging requirements in automated manufacturing settings. Historically, industrial machine vision OEMs were forced to rely on fixed focus cameras with high F-stop to achieve sufficient depth of focus, hindering advanced imaging for factory and warehouse automation, barcode scanners and embedded cameras. Delivering a constant field-of-view focusing solution enables industrial machine vision OEMs to meet the growing AI-driven imaging requirements in automated manufacturing applications.
poLight ASA has developed a patent-pending technique to meet this market need while leveraging the autofocus capabilities of tunable optics. Open loop and fixed distance focusing devices such as barcode scanners and embedded cameras require nearly instantaneous focusing. In these devices, the focusing distance is predefined by a distance measurement (time of flight, triangulation, etc.) or set during calibration at a fixed distance. However, changes in focusing distance or environmental impacts, lead to defocusing and ultimately system malfunction.
Typically, the focusing device camera would overcome these issues by increasing the depth of focus, allowing some tolerance around the ideal focus setting. This requires increasing the F-stop which reduces the numerical aperture, ultimately reducing the optical resolution of the system. This solution only works in low resolution systems – not the high-resolution requirements demanded by AI. The ideal system is stable so that a given distance corresponds to a given optical power which corresponds to a set voltage and DAC addressed to the voltage driver. In this situation, a constant DAC (constant distance) or look-up table can translate the target focusing distance into the targeted DAC addressed to the voltage driver. Unfortunately, automated manufacturing applications are often not ideal systems.
Our solution enables open-loop live calibration for both handheld and stationary devices enabling design engineers to rapidly set and change object/focal distances to accommodate different manufacturing scenarios. Appling an off-the-shelf (OTS) focusing camera tunable optics lens, with ultrafast (~1ms), ultralow power consuming(~1mW) specifications, this solution delivers a proven flexible option that reliably delivers the level of imaging required.
During this presentation, our speaker will share system focusing open loop live recalibration data for both handheld and fixed devices, methodology to accommodate drift/change in the system, and details related to the tunable optics used in this approach.
MENU: Coffee, decaf, tea and water will be available nearby.
SETUP: Theater seating.
poLight ASA has developed a patent-pending technique to meet this market need while leveraging the autofocus capabilities of tunable optics. Open loop and fixed distance focusing devices such as barcode scanners and embedded cameras require nearly instantaneous focusing. In these devices, the focusing distance is predefined by a distance measurement (time of flight, triangulation, etc.) or set during calibration at a fixed distance. However, changes in focusing distance or environmental impacts, lead to defocusing and ultimately system malfunction.
Typically, the focusing device camera would overcome these issues by increasing the depth of focus, allowing some tolerance around the ideal focus setting. This requires increasing the F-stop which reduces the numerical aperture, ultimately reducing the optical resolution of the system. This solution only works in low resolution systems – not the high-resolution requirements demanded by AI. The ideal system is stable so that a given distance corresponds to a given optical power which corresponds to a set voltage and DAC addressed to the voltage driver. In this situation, a constant DAC (constant distance) or look-up table can translate the target focusing distance into the targeted DAC addressed to the voltage driver. Unfortunately, automated manufacturing applications are often not ideal systems.
Our solution enables open-loop live calibration for both handheld and stationary devices enabling design engineers to rapidly set and change object/focal distances to accommodate different manufacturing scenarios. Appling an off-the-shelf (OTS) focusing camera tunable optics lens, with ultrafast (~1ms), ultralow power consuming(~1mW) specifications, this solution delivers a proven flexible option that reliably delivers the level of imaging required.
During this presentation, our speaker will share system focusing open loop live recalibration data for both handheld and fixed devices, methodology to accommodate drift/change in the system, and details related to the tunable optics used in this approach.
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Pierre Craen has over 25 years of experience in R&D opto-mechanical systems engineering, with extensive experience in optics, imaging systems, mechanical design, simulations and testing. Prior to joining poLight®, he managed product development teams at Varioptic, Barco and Motorola/Symbol. Pierre holds both an MSc in Optoelectronics and Applied Physics from the University of Liege, as well as a MSc in Optical Engineering from Institut d'Optique Graduate School.
Event Details
FORMAT: Oral presentation followed by audience Q&A.MENU: Coffee, decaf, tea and water will be available nearby.
SETUP: Theater seating.