Lighttools
LightTools, developed by Synopsys’ Optical Solutions Group (formerly Optical Research Associates), is a commercial optical modeling software product for designing and analyzing illumination (i.e., non-imaging) systems.
Design environment
LightTools provides a 3D solid modeling environment for model creation with features for illumination design and engineering, including extended numerical precision, ray tracing tools, and an optimization tool designed to improve illumination system performance based on user-specified performance criteria.
LightTools represents optical entities such as sources, receivers, lightpipes, reflectors, and diffusers in the same model as mechanical components and structures. LightTools model components are defined with parametric formulas that maintain surface shape, position, and intersection to optical accuracy for all calculations. Polarization, scattering off surfaces and within materials, surface reflection and refraction, and the performance of thin film coatings and color filters are examples of light effects that can be included in system analysis. Model components can be created and edited directly in LightTools or imported from other CAD software.
LightTools includes libraries of glass and plastic materials, catalog lenses, surfaces finishes, light sources, and thin film materials from manufacturers. Other program features include pre-built example models and application-specific utilities.
Ray tracing capabilities
LightTools employs non-sequential Monte Carlo ray trace techniques to simulate the effect of optical and mechanical elements on the geometric propagation of light through the optical system. The ray trace determines illuminance and intensity distributions on multiple receiver surfaces from one or multiple sources. A point-and-shoot ray tracing feature supports interactive evaluation of ray behavior in the model. LightTools also supports sequential ray tracing in imaging paths.
Analysis output
LightTools’ analysis output includes intensity, angular and spatial luminance, and illuminance charts. Colorimetric performance can be visualized with true color plots. A photorealistic rendering capability includes lit appearance to demonstrate the luminance effects of light sources contained in the model.
Illumination system optimization
LightTools includes an optimization capability designed to automatically improve the performance of an illumination system based on user-specified performance criteria. Users can choose system parameters to designate as variables to achieve specified luminance, illuminance, or output intensity distribution goals.
Application programming interface
LightTools provides an application programming interface (API) that enables users to write macros to automate program tasks or interact with other software. The LightTools API uses the Microsoft Windows standard Component Object Model (COM) interface. This enables users to write macros using applications such as Visual Basic (VB), Microsoft Office applications, C++, MATLAB, or any other application that supports Windows COM architecture.
Data exchange
Import and export between LightTools and other CAD programs is supported by the STEP, SAT, IGES, CATIA V4 and V5, Parasolid, and DXF formats. The LightTools SolidWorks Link Module provides parametric interoperability between LightTools and SolidWorks. LightTools is import and export compatible with CODE V, a commercial software product developed by Synopsys’ Optical Solutions Group for designing imaging systems.
LightTools supports a number of other data export formats, including VRML and IES (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America).
Industries and applications
LightTools is used in the development of illumination systems for a range of industries and applications, including but not limited to LED-based sources, backlit displays, digital and overhead projector systems, general lighting, solar concentrating optics, and vehicle interior and exterior lighting
History
LightTools was commercially introduced by Optical Research Associates in 1995 and has been in continuous development since then. In 2010, Synopsys acquired Optical Research Associates.
Supported operating systems and platforms
LightTools is available on Intel- and AMD-based personal computers running Windows. The program supports multi-processing (distributed ray tracing) on PCs with multiple processing cores.
See also
- Optical engineering
- Advanced Systems Analysis Program (ASAP)
- Zemax
- TracePro