Conference Program 2025
The Nonimaging Optics conference is organized as part of SPIE Optics + Photonics. The official full program is also available through SPIE.
Conference at a Glance
2
Days
5
Invited Talks
25
Presentations
11
Countries
Join us for an exciting conference packed with presentations from researchers and industry professionals in the field of nonimaging optics!
Invited Speakers
We are proud to present our lineup of invited speakers for the 2025 conference:
Martijn Anthonissen
Eindhoven University of Technology
Martijn Anthonissen works at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Computational Illumination Optics group. This is one of the few mathematics groups worldwide working on optical design problems from illumination optics. The team has a healthy portfolio of PhD positions and close collaborations with industrial partners. The research focuses on nonimaging freeform optics, imaging optics and improved direct methods.
Martijn Anthonissen works at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Computational Illumination Optics group. This is one of the few mathematics groups worldwide working on optical design problems from illumination optics. The team has a healthy portfolio of PhD positions and close collaborations with industrial partners. The research focuses on nonimaging freeform optics, imaging optics and improved direct methods.
William Cassarly
Synopsys Scientist
William Cassarly is a Synopsys Scientist. Before joining Synopsys/ORA, Bill worked at GE and received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds 50 US patents and has worked extensively in illumination system design, sources, photometry, light pipes, and non-imaging optics. Bill was awarded the GE Corporate 'D. R. Mack Advanced Course Supervisor Award' for his efforts in the training of GE Engineers, submitted the winning solution to both the 2006 and 2010 IODC Illumination Design Contests, and is an SPIE Fellow.
William Cassarly is a Synopsys Scientist. Before joining Synopsys/ORA, Bill worked at GE and received his Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds 50 US patents and has worked extensively in illumination system design, sources, photometry, light pipes, and non-imaging optics. Bill was awarded the GE Corporate 'D. R. Mack Advanced Course Supervisor Award' for his efforts in the training of GE Engineers, submitted the winning solution to both the 2006 and 2010 IODC Illumination Design Contests, and is an SPIE Fellow.
Norbert Danz
Fraunhofer-Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF
Norbert Danz received a PhD in physics from Freidrich-Schiller University in Jena in 2003. Since that time he has been with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF. He is active in various fields related to the development and application of micro-optical systems. This includes active organic electronics materials and devices as well as micro-optical system engineering. The latter addresses pattern shaping and projection applications, miniaturized spectroscopy and microscopy, as well as biosensing, thereby covering the optical system design as well as element and system optical characterization and demonstration.
Norbert Danz received a PhD in physics from Freidrich-Schiller University in Jena in 2003. Since that time he has been with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF. He is active in various fields related to the development and application of micro-optical systems. This includes active organic electronics materials and devices as well as micro-optical system engineering. The latter addresses pattern shaping and projection applications, miniaturized spectroscopy and microscopy, as well as biosensing, thereby covering the optical system design as well as element and system optical characterization and demonstration.
Erin McDermott
Spire Starter
Erin McDermott is an expert in nonimaging optics who began her career in optics and photonics 20 years ago. She is known for turning optical problems into robust, production-ready solutions across diverse industries. At Spire Starter, she consults on challenges in LED illumination, lens and reflector systems, light pipes, IR sensors, and light guides in consumer electronics, agriculture, aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial sectors. Also known for her technical content on social media (@spirestarter on TikTok) and in tech magazines, Erin shares practical insights in layman's terms that demystify the complexities of optical engineering and hardware development. She holds a B.S. in Applied Physics and concentration in Applied Optics from Kettering University.
Erin McDermott is an expert in nonimaging optics who began her career in optics and photonics 20 years ago. She is known for turning optical problems into robust, production-ready solutions across diverse industries. At Spire Starter, she consults on challenges in LED illumination, lens and reflector systems, light pipes, IR sensors, and light guides in consumer electronics, agriculture, aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial sectors. Also known for her technical content on social media (@spirestarter on TikTok) and in tech magazines, Erin shares practical insights in layman's terms that demystify the complexities of optical engineering and hardware development. She holds a B.S. in Applied Physics and concentration in Applied Optics from Kettering University.
John Koshel
College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona
John Koshel is the Associate Dean of Academic Programs at the College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona. He is known for his research and development of illumination systems including reflectors, displays, lightpipes, solar concentrators, and lighting systems. Previously, he was also the Principal Illumination Engineer and VP of Consulting at Photon Engineering.
John Koshel is the Associate Dean of Academic Programs at the College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona. He is known for his research and development of illumination systems including reflectors, displays, lightpipes, solar concentrators, and lighting systems. Previously, he was also the Principal Illumination Engineer and VP of Consulting at Photon Engineering.
Full Program
The program is subject to change, and regularly updated as we approach the conference date.
Want to participate in this program? Post-deadline abstract submissions will be considered through 16 June. See Call for papers
Monday, 4 August 2025
Conference Opening
8:30 AM
Opening remarks: in memory of Roland Winston
Lun Jiang, Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (United States)
8:50 AM
History and evolution of the nonimaging conference (Invited Paper)
William J. Cassarly, Synopsys, Inc. (United States)
Non-Imaging Optics in Photovoltaics: Joint Session with 13597 and 13598
9:20 AM
Blackbody spectral radiance in dispersive media
Julius A. Muschaweck, JMO GmbH (Germany)
9:40 AM
Spectrally-selective non-imaging optics for photovoltaic farm applications
Peter Bermel, Purdue Univ. (United States)
10:00 AM
Outdoor characterization of a tracking-integrated, semi-transparent, high-efficiency CPV technology for agro-voltaic applications
Kareem F. Younes, Khalifa Univ. (United Arab Emirates); Matteo Chiesa, UiT The Arctic Univ. of Norway (Norway)
Coffee Break 10:20 AM - 10:50 AM
Theoretical Foundations and Modeling
10:50 AM
3D demonstration of flowline
Lun Jiang, Univ. of California, Merced (United States)
11:10 AM
Generalized asymmetric angle transformers
Gianpaolo Lenarduzzi, Thomas A. Cooper, York Univ. (Canada)
11:30 AM
Flowline design of refractive optics
Alex G. Lehmann, Nicholas Ekins-Daukes, Mark Keevers, The Univ. of New South Wales (Australia)
Lunch Break 11:50 AM - 1:20 PM
Specialized and Emerging Applications
1:20 PM
Lightpipes: love 'em, hate 'em (Invited Paper)
R. John Koshel, Wyant College of Optical Sciences (United States)
1:50 PM
Janus freeform illumination lens
Shili Wei, Univ. of Electronic Science and Technology of China (China)
2:10 PM
High-performance imaging with a nonimaging spatial information transfer lens and a backward wave propagation model
Fengxu Guo, Zhihui Ding, Rengmao Wu, Zhejiang Univ. (China)
Coffee Break 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Lighting and Illumination
3:00 PM
Theory vs. manufacturing reality: bridging the disconnect in nonimaging optics (Invited Paper)
Erin McDermott, Spire Starter LLC (United States)
3:30 PM
Backlighted public transport push-buttons: from photometric characterisation towards improved visual contrast
Lien Smeesters, Hugo Thienpont, Jürgen Van Erps, Vrije Univ. Brussel (Belgium), Flanders Make (Belgium)
3:50 PM
Design of freeform LED illumination lenses without glare
Youri Meuret, Jeroen Cerpentier, KU Leuven (Belgium)
4:10 PM
Compound parabolic concentrator design optimisation for façade-mounted daylighting systems
Wai Qian Tham, Subhash Chandra, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland); Brian Norton, International Energy Research Ctr. (Ireland); Sarah J. McCormack, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
4:30 PM
Cohesive beam shaping need, subsequent design, testing, and implementation techniques for a necessary and immediate system correction
Rohan Nag, Jaquar & Company Pvt. Ltd. (India)
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
Design Methods
9:00 AM
Models using optimal mass transport for inverse design in nonimaging optical systems (Invited Paper)
Martijn Anthonissen, Technische Univ. Eindhoven (Netherlands)
9:30 AM
Tailored optics for extended sources
Harald Ries, ffOptik GmbH (Germany)
9:50 AM
Reflective freeform optics tailoring for off-axis illumination systems
Zijun Zhang, Rengmao Wu, Zhejiang Univ. (China)
Coffee Break 10:10 AM - 10:40 AM
Nonimaging Optics for Projection and Sensing
10:40 AM
Array micro-optics applications to projection and sensing (Invited Paper)
Norbert Danz, Dmitrij Stefanidi, Rohan Kundu, Peter Schreiber, Dirk Michaelis, Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik IOF (Germany)
11:10 AM
Multi-LED illumination design benefitting spectroscopic sensing
Lien Smeesters, Dries Rosseel, Hugo Thienpont, Vrije Univ. Brussel (Belgium), Flanders Make (Belgium)
11:30 AM
Optically efficient automotive animated turn signal projector utilizing tandem free-form light control surfaces and etendue pinch devices
Edward Bailey, Magna Lighting (United States)
11:50 AM
Micro-Compound Parabolic Concentrator (µCPC) arrays as an alternative to microlens arrays for avalanche photodiodes
Benjamin A. Cohen, Christopher Roberts, Zachary Darling, Madhavi Seetamraju, Alberto Cabral, Lalitha Parameswaran, MIT Lincoln Lab. (United States)
Conference Closing
12:10 PM
The XX concentrator design challenge
Lien Smeesters, Vrije Univ. Brussel (Belgium), Flanders Make (Belgium); Thomas A. Cooper, York Univ. (Canada); Lun Jiang, Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (United States); Håkon J. D. Johnsen, Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology (Norway)
12:30 PM
Closing Remarks and Best Paper Award
Thomas A. Cooper