4 ECTS credits
110 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4023333ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.
This course is part of the interuniversity Master of Science in Photonics Engineering, and focuses on illumination systems, starting from the theoretical concepts, to the description and characterization of light sources, and the optical design and optimization of illumination and beam shaping optics.
The following topics will be covered:
(1) Lighting technology theory and exercises, covering radiometry, photometry and colorimetry, the description of different lighting technologies and their characterization devices.
(2) Theoretical concepts related to optical illumination and beam shaping design, including freeform optics design.
(3) Optical illumination and beam shaping design using optical simulation software, and considering real-world applications. First, the simulation and evaluation of commercially available sources is studied using extended source descriptions. Following, the optimization of custom illumination optics is studied, enabling beam shaping and efficiency maximization, while tailoring the design towards different use cases.
Based on the studied theory and the optical design methodologies studied during the exercises and the design tasks, the students need to develop their own illumination/lighting optical design, optimized for a chosen application. This includes the selection of a suitable light source or light source array, the design and optimization of a novel optical component, and the evaluation and interpretation of its performance.
The course is composed of theory lectures, exercises, and optical design simulation sessions. The students will develop their own illumination design within an optical design project. For this design project, a peer-feedback session will be scheduled, during which each of the students show their optical design file to their colleagues, including their results and challenges, followed by a common brainstorming on how to further improve the design. Compulsory attendance is required during the peer-feedback session. In case of legally motivated absence, the student needs to personally inform the course responsible as soon as possible.
Study material:
Required Course slides, Lighting Technology, Lien Smeesters
Required Course recordings, Lien Smeesters
Supplementary course material: Handbook: Designing Illumination Optics (2022), Muschaweck
• The students can define, describe and calculate the radiometric, photometric and colorimetric quantities of lighting systems, they can exemplify them and make correct use of the quantities and their units.
• The students can describe and summarize the different lamp technologies, select an appropriate lamp technology for a light source and lighting installation.
• The students have insight in the lighting characterization measurement devices, and can interpret the measurement data within a written report.
• The students can simulate and evaluate optical illumination and beam shaping systems using optical simulation software.
• The students can design and optimize secondary optics suitable for illumination systems.
• The student can critically evaluate illumination optical designs and compare their performance, while being able to defend their design to peers.
• The student can design, optimize and evaluate a selected custom illumination problem under limited guidance.
• The student is able to orally report on the designed illumination system.
• The student is acquainted with the recent innovation trends in the field of illumination optical design.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 30% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 60% of the final mark.
PRAC Report determines 10% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Report category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The final grade is based on the following 3 categories:
• Lighting laboratory report (10% of the final mark)
Note: This includes the calculation of the light source radiometric, photometric and colorimetric quantities based on experimental data. In case of late submission a penalty of 10% per day will be subtracted from the given mark.
• Oral exam with written preparation (30% of the final mark)
Note: The students will be questioned about their knowledge, insight and skills of the course. They are given time to prepare their answers. Open questions, closed book exam.
• Illumination Optical Design project using optical simulation software (60% of the final mark)
Note: The students are asked to simulate and optimize an illumination optical design, and to explain the design and optimization procedure during an oral examination session. Evaluation is based on the simulation file (relative weight of 60% of the project) and the answers to the questions during the oral discussion (relative weight of 40% of the project). Compulsory attendance during the peer-feedback session, during which the students present their simulation file to their peers. In case of legally motivated absence, the student needs to personally inform the course responsible as soon as possible. In case of illegal absence, this will result in a penalty of 20% on the Illumination Optical Design project.
The achieved marks for one or multiple of the subparts can be transferred to the second examination period, or to the next academic year, in case a minimum of 10/20 was achieved for that subpart, and on condition the student participated to all 3 subparts.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Photonics Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Photonics Engineering: On campus traject
Master of Photonics Engineering: Online/Digital traject