Glossary

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Eccentricity

The difference in alignment between the optical axis and the mechanical axis of a component, typically specified with a mirror.

Edge Thickness (ET)

A calculated value which depends on radii, diameter, and center thickness of a lens. It is thus used as a reference to indicate physical limitations for mounting considerations.

Effective Focal Length (EFL)

An optical measurement given as the distance from a principal plane of an optical lens to its imaging plane.

See also Principal Plane, Radius of Curvature, Back Focal Length (BFL)

Electronic Shutter

Controls the amount of time a camera collects light or charge during each frame. Standard signal formats employ approximately 60 frames per second (fps), indicating a collecting charge of 1/60 seconds for each frame. As light levels increase the sensor overfills with charge, resulting in blooming or streaking. Electronic shuttering circuits prevent these effects by allowing the sensor to collect charge for a shorter period during each frame.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

Built up charge through the action of static electricity that discharges into a person or device after contact. While ESD voltages frequently exceed 3,000 volts, the current associated with ESD is low making it safe, though at times unpleasant, for humans.

Ellipticity

The quality of asymmetrical intensity distribution in a laser beam, as opposed to a circular distribution.

Encoder

Electromechanical device that creates discrete electrical pulses directly related to the angular position of the input device (shaft). This allows for high resolution feedback data on position.

Entrance Pupil

In a lens or other optical system, the image of the aperture stop when it is imaged through the lens elements into object space.

See also Marginal Ray, Chief Ray, Exit Pupil

Equilateral (Dispersing) Prism

A dispersion prism used to separate white light into its spectral components. It has three equal 60° angles.

See also Dispersion

Exit Pupil

The image of the aperture stop when it is imaged through lens elements into image space.

See also Marginal Ray, Chief Ray, Entrance Pupil

Extinction Ratio

The relationship between the intensity of incident light to intensity of transmitted light passing through an optic. It is used to categorize a polarizer or laser's ability to pass a given polarization state relative to another.

See also Polarization