Understanding the Light Path Finder Parameters

The following section describes the Light Path Finder parameters used to visualize the results.

Ray Length Parameter According to Sensors

Note: The Ray Length parameter only set a preview of the length. If you want to export the rays as geometry, the parameter has no impact on the length exported when you use export as geometry. The length of the rays exported depends on the optical system and the simulation parameters.

In Direct Simulation, the Ray Length parameter has different meanings according to the sensor used.

  • Irradiance Sensor: it corresponds to the length of the rays after the last impact, located on the sensor.

    Irradiance Sensors have a physical location in the system.

  • Intensity Sensor: it corresponds to the length of the rays after the last impact on the geometries.

    Intensity Sensors have no physical location in the system, radius is only used to size the sensor in the 3D view and to display the results.

  • Radiance Sensor: the Ray Length parameter is not used as the propagation stops when rays are integrated by the sensor. What you observe is the path to the observer point.

Section Mode

The Section mode is a useful tool that allows you to go further into a Light Expert analysis. The tool permits you to modify the position and orientation of a section plan with a 3D Manipulator while performing a Light Expert analysis that requires ray tracing. By positioning the section mode, you can cut a geometry and therefore better see the rays passing through, according to the parameters and area of measure set.

Note: The Section mode only affects the geometries. Rays are not cropped.


Note: The Section mode tool is also useful in case of a Propagation Errors Analysis.

Rotation Handle Distance from Center

The Rotation handle distance from Center parameter allows you to modify the distance of the rotation manipulators to the center of the Section mode 3D Manipulator for a better visibility and use.