Optical windows fabricated by General Optics are produced from two precisely polished plano surfaces, providing exceptional parallelism and wavefront quality. These components are designed to separate, seal, or protect sensitive systems, making them ideal for visible windows in industrial and biomedical applications as well as IR windows for defense and infrared technologies.
Optical Window Manufacturing Limits
| Specifications | Size Range |
|---|---|
| Diameter | ≤ 2000 mm (large aperture capability) |
| Length / Width | ≤ 2000 mm × 1500 mm (custom sizes available) |
| IR Windows | Ø5 – Ø500 mm |
| Optical Flats | Up to Ø300 mm |
| Thickness | ≤ 200 mm |
| Thickness Tolerance | ± 0.01 mm |
| Surface Quality | 60-40 to 10-5 |
| Surface Roughness | 0.5 nm |
| Parallelism | ≤ 1 arc second |
| Clear Aperture | ≥ 95% |
Custom Windows & Flats
Tailored Solutions for Your Applications
Window Shapes
General Optics designs and manufactures custom optical windows in a variety of shapes, sizes, and substrates to meet customer requirements.
With advanced CNC glass machining and precision polishing capabilities, we provide high-quality windows optimized for industrial, biomedical, defense, and scientific applications.
Standard Window Shapes:
- Circular Windows
- Square Windows
- Rectangular Windows
- Elliptical Windows
Optical Window Applications
Core Optical Components for Excimer Laser Annealing (ELA) Process
General Optics supplies precision optical windows tailored to diverse industries and systems, ensuring durability, high transmission, and reliable performance.
Key Features:
- Laser Windows – High-power laser systems for industrial processing and research
- Protective Windows (Debris Shields) – To safeguard sensitive optics and instruments
- Sensor / EO Windows – Infrared and electro-optical systems for defense and security
- Instrument & Viewing Windows – Semiconductor inspection, biomedical devices, and display testing
Types of Optical Windows
General Optics manufactures a wide range of custom optical windows in diverse shapes, sizes, and substrates to meet customer requirements across industrial, biomedical, display, semiconductor, and defense applications.
Standard Types
- Circular Windows – Common format for laser, sensing, and protective applications
- Square & Rectangular Windows – Ideal for display inspection, semiconductor equipment, and precision instrumentation
- Elliptical Windows – Designed for specialized optical paths and compact system integration
Custom Options
- Large-aperture windows up to Ø 2000 mm
- Substrates including fused silica, optical glass, IR materials
- AR, HR, Broadband, and High LIDT coating options
- Tailored edge profiles and mounting interfaces available
Protective Windows
Protective windows are designed to safeguard sensitive optical systems from dust, moisture, and environmental impacts while maintaining high transmission.
- Available in BK7, Fused Silica, and other durable substrates
- Standard size range Ø5 – Ø300 mm (custom up to Ø500 mm)
- AR, HR, and DLC coatings available for extended durability
- Designed for industrial, defense, and environmental applications
General Optics Advantage
- Large-format protective windows up to Ø2050 mm
- In-house DLC coatings for abrasion resistance
- Custom assemblies with housing integration
Laser-Grade Windows
Laser-grade windows are engineered for use in high-power laser applications where surface quality, transmission, and damage threshold are critical. General Optics provides fused silica and sapphire windows optimized for demanding research and industrial environments.
- Available in Fused Silica and Sapphire substrates
- High Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT)
- Excellent surface flatness: up to λ/10
- High surface quality: 10/5 scratch-dig (typical)
- AR/HR coatings optimized for VIS, NIR, and UV laser lines
- Custom sizes available: Ø10 – Ø500 mm (larger upon request)
Applications
- High-power laser optics
- Semiconductor processing equipment
- Research laboratories
- Precision industrial laser systems
General Optics Advantage
- Large-format laser windows up to Ø2050 mm
- Customized coatings for specific laser lines (193 nm – 14 μm)
- High-durability AR/HR/DLC coatings for extended lifetime
- OEM assemblies with housing integration available
Annealing Windows
Core Optical Components for Excimer Laser Annealing (ELA) Process
Annealing Windows are critical transmissive optics applied in Excimer Laser Annealing (ELA) processes for OLED and LCD display manufacturing. They ensure stable transmission of high-power excimer laser beams with superior durability.
Key Specifications
- Material: Fused Silica (Corning 7980 0E grade)
- Size: up to 850 mm × 150 mm × 20 mm (custom sizes available from 300 mm to over 2000 mm)
- Thickness: 20 mm (±0.5 mm typical)
- Surface Accuracy: λ/4 at 633 nm per inch
- Parallelism (Wedge): ≤ 3 arcmin
- Coating: Dual-side AR coating (R ≤ 0.25% per surface at 308 nm, T ≥ 99%)
Distinctive Features
- Large-aperture optics for high-power excimer laser systems
- Ultra-high transmission at 308 nm, ensuring uniform laser energy delivery
- Excellent flatness and parallelism minimizing beam distortion
- In-house polishing, coating, and precision metrology process for complete quality control
- Proven performance validated through surface roughness, transmission, and reflection tests
Distinctive Features
- One of the World’s Largest Annealing Windows (up to 2050 mm)
– unmatched large-format capability - Dedicated In-House Coating Chambers
– optimized AR coating for annealing applications - Proven Reliability with Leading Display Manufacturers
– trusted by global Tier-1 equipment builders - High Laser Damage Threshold (LIDT)
– stable performance under extreme excimer laser power - End-to-End Manufacturing
– design, machining, coating, and inspection under one roof
Applications
- OLED & LCD display manufacturing (ELA process)
- Semiconductor production lines
- High-power excimer laser processing systems
- Advanced laser optics requiring large-area precision transmission
IR Windows
General Optics offers a wide range of infrared (IR) window materials to support diverse applications in imaging, sensing, and defense. Each material is selected for optimal transmission within specific IR bands.
Key Materials
- Thermal imaging systems (LWIR 8–12 μm)
- Missile domes and aerospace optics
- Industrial laser optics (CO₂, IR cutting)
- Environmental & gas sensing
Applications
- Thermal imaging systems (LWIR 8–12 μm)
- Missile domes and aerospace optics
- Industrial laser optics (CO₂, IR cutting)
- Environmental & gas sensing
IR windows are designed for imaging, sensing, and defense systems, ensuring high transmission and durability across infrared bands.
- Size range: Ø5 – Ø500 mm (custom up to Ø2050 mm)
- Materials: ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, Si, CaF₂, MgF₂
- Coatings: AR, HR, DLC (for abrasion resistance)
Optical Flats
Optical flats are reference-grade optics used for testing, calibration, and interferometry. They provide highly precise flat surfaces for evaluating optical quality.
- Diameter: up to Ø300 mm (custom larger sizes available)
- Surface accuracy: λ/4 to λ/10
- Materials: BK7, UV Fused Silica
- Surface quality: 10/5 scratch-dig (typical)
- Coatings available: AR, HR
Applications
- Interferometry and calibration
- Optical testing and reference surfaces
- R&D and metrology systems
Waveplates (Polarization Contrl)
Waveplates are birefringent optical elements that change the polarization state of light. They are essential in laser systems, interferometry, and polarization optics.
- Types: Half-wave, Quarter-wave, Achromatic, Dual-wavelength
- Materials: Quartz, MgF₂
- Retardation accuracy: λ/4, λ/8, custom
- Diameters: up to Ø300 mm
Applications
- Polarization rotation
- Phase compensation
- Laser polarization control
Etalons (Wavelength Selection)
Etalons are precision optical cavities used for wavelength selection and stabilization based on interference effects.
- TMaterials: Fused Silica, Sapphire
- Thickness range: 0.1 – 5 mm
- FSR (Free Spectral Range): customized
- Coatings: AR, HR as required
Applications
- Laser line selection
- Spectroscopy
- Optical telecommunications
