Synopsys rolled out version 7.2 of their LightTools illumination design and analysis software. LightTools v7.2 helps engineers to graphically analyze simulation results, compute metrics when designing for the lighting industry, iteratively design with CAD software and improve the efficiency of luminaire and solar designs. LightTools is a 3D optical engineering and design software product that supports virtual prototyping, simulation, optimization and photorealistic renderings of illumination applications. The LightTools 7.2 release is available now. LightTools was acquired as part of Synopsys’ acquisition of Optical Research Associates (ORA).
Synopsys LightTools v7.2 Features
Customize Simulation Results
- LightTools LumViewer interactive charting tool can be customized illumination simulation results to meet personal, company or industry standards
- Designers can rotate and zoom 3D charts, change fonts and colors, view data on a logarithmic scale
- Engineers can save charting customizations in a template to reload for later use, or to set as a default for all LightTools charts
Beam Statistics
- LightTools simulation output now includes detailed beam statistics
- Lighting designers can access beam and field width information for analysis and optimization
- Optical system can be automatically optimized to match a specified beam spread
CAD File Element
- LightTools entities can be associated with an externally created CAD file with new CAD file element
- Geometry can be updated with the click of a button without losing optical properties, names or relations with other elements of the LightTools model
- Supports CATIA, IGES, SAT and STEP formats
- Simplifies the process of using CAD geometry in LightTools and ensures data integrity throughout design iterations
Native Compound Parabolic Concentrators
- 3D compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) and CPC reflectors are now available as native elements
- Elements are fully optimizable
- Designers can automatically optimize a CPC’s size and angle to match a target illumination distribution, intensity, total power or flux on a receiver