BEYOND FLAT SURFACES: THE POWER OF CYLINDRICAL FRESNEL LENSES IN SMART SENSING
Among them, the cylindrical Fresnel lens—often overlooked compared to its concentric cousin—has emerged as a key enabler of next-generation passive infrared (PIR) detection systems.
Beyond Flat Surfaces: The Power of Cylindrical Fresnel Lenses in Smart Sensing
In the rapidly evolving fields of security, automation, and intelligent devices, optical components must be precise, compact, and economically scalable. Among them, the cylindrical Fresnel lens—often overlooked compared to its concentric cousin—has emerged as a key enabler of next-generation passive infrared (PIR) detection systems.
What Is a Cylindrical Fresnel Lens?
Unlike traditional Fresnel lenses with circular symmetry and point focusing, a cylindrical Fresnel lens consists of linear prism structures designed for line focusing. This geometry allows the lens to focus light along a line rather than a single point, making it ideal for applications requiring wide-angle or directional sensitivity. When integrated with PIR sensors, this lens enables structured infrared radiation detection over hallways, corridors, or doorways—environments where linear motion is dominant.
Why Cylindrical Fresnel?
While dome or concentric Fresnel lenses are typically ceiling-mounted and offer radial detection coverage, cylindrical Fresnel lenses provide a curtain-like sensing area. This is especially useful for movement classification, direction estimation, and zone-based distance detection with a single PIR sensor module—significantly reducing system cost and complexity.
Recent research highlights the effectiveness of using a curtain-type cylindrical Fresnel lens in conjunction with signal amplification and machine learning to classify human presence and walking direction with over 98% . The lens extends the virtual sensitive zones of the PIR sensor, enabling better spatial resolution and reducing false positives, which is critical for occupancy monitoring and smart lighting systems.
Optimized Light Distribution and Non-Coaxial Focusing
A common limitation in coaxial Fresnel lenses is the concentration of infrared energy at the center, which can cause blind spots or over-sensitivity in central zones. Cylindrical Fresnel lenses, when paired with non-coaxial focusing techniques, allow for uniform convergence of light across the sensor’s surface, enhancing detection consistency throughout the field of view. This uniformity is vital in high-precision motion detection and helps minimize false triggers.
Applications Across Industries
Smart Buildings: Occupancy-based lighting and HVAC control.
Security Systems: Direction-sensitive intrusion detection in hallways.
Healthcare: Non-contact monitoring of patient movements.
Retail Analytics: Tracking foot traffic along store aisles.
Advanced systems now integrate cylindrical Fresnel lenses with real-time signal analysis to classify movement direction, estimate distance, and track occupancy patterns—all with minimal power and cost overhead.
Why Choose Aubor Optical for Cylindrical Fresnel Lens Solutions?
At Aubor, we specialize in the R&D and manufacturing of high-performance polymer Fresnel lenses—specifically tailored for sensor applications. Our in-house capabilities include:
Precision Injection Molding: Custom groove patterns for linear focusing, optimized through Zemax simulation.
Surface Finishing & Coating: Anti-reflective, hydrophobic, or IR-enhancing coatings available for application-specific needs.
Rapid Prototyping: We support fast turnaround from design to sample delivery for customer-defined detection zones.
Smart Manufacturing Integration: Combining optical design with IoT sensor applications, including PIR modules, ToF sensing, and AI-based analytics.
Our lenses have been successfully deployed in smart security systems, intelligent lighting, and healthcare environments. Whether you're a device designer, system integrator, or OEM, Aubor Optics is ready to support your path from prototype to mass production—with optical precision and responsive engineering support.
