About us

Since our inception in 1992, KUPO Optics has been at the forefront of the optical coatings and filters industry. With a steadfast commitment to quality, we've carved out a distinguished reputation, providing top-tier optical solutions. Our focus on maintaining high standards has positioned us as a leader in the professional optical filter market, catering to a diverse range of industries with unmatched expertise and precision.

More

Hot Mirrors

KUPO Optics' Hot Mirrors represent a pinnacle of innovation in optical technology, offering a solution uniquely designed to manage heat in a variety of settings without compromising on light quality. These hot mirrors excel in reflecting near-infrared (NIR) light while allowing a substantial amount of visible light to pass through. This feature is crucial in protecting sensitive components from heat damage, a common challenge in many modern optical and lighting systems.
 
Crafted with precision, KUPO's hot mirrors are ideal for use in projection systems, illumination setups, art galleries, and photographic and film apparatus. In each application, the mirrors serve a dual purpose: they prevent overheating of components and reduce heat exposure to audiences or environments. For instance, when placed in front of a light source in a gallery, these mirrors significantly minimize the heat transmitted to the surroundings, thus protecting delicate artworks without altering the visible illumination.
 
The meticulous design of these mirrors ensures excellent visible light transmission and effective infrared reflection, thereby achieving an optimal balance between light quality and temperature control. Adhering to the rigorous MIL-M-13508C standards, KUPO Optics guarantees consistency across every product, ensuring reliability and performance. Whether it’s enhancing audience comfort in a theater or preserving the integrity of sensitive equipment in a studio, KUPO's Hot Mirrors stand as a testament to our commitment to providing advanced, practical solutions in the realm of optical technology.
 
 
 
KUPO Dichroic/ Hot Mirrors

Features

● Perfect piece-to-piece, batch-to-batch consistency
● Excellent visible light transmission
● Infrared reflection

Examples of Applications

● Projection System
● Illumination System
● Art Gallery
● Photographic and Film Apparatus

General Specification

● Spectral Tolerance: +/- 10nm at designated wavelength
● Available Substrate: See Glass Substrates under Products Page
● Humidity, Adhesion, and Abrasion: MIL-M-13508C

 

The Applications of Hot Mirrors

 
Hot mirrors are specialized optical components that reflect infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through, making them an invaluable tool for heat management in situations where heat buildup could damage equipment or alter performance. These mirrors are employed in various sectors, including photography, stage lighting, machine vision, and digital projection, providing solutions to thermal challenges and enhancing the longevity and functionality of optical systems.
 
Photography
 
In photography, hot mirrors are used to filter out infrared light that can cause image distortion or a red color shift, particularly in digital cameras. This ensures that the sensors capture true-to-life colors and clear images without the influence of infrared radiation, which is particularly vital for outdoor photography and in environments with significant heat or light exposure, such as industrial or scientific settings.
 
Stage Lighting
 
Stage lighting equipment often utilizes hot mirrors to protect color filters, gobos, and other sensitive components from the intense heat generated by lighting fixtures. By reflecting infrared radiation away from these elements, hot mirrors help maintain the integrity of lighting systems and prevent overheating, thus safeguarding the visual quality of stage productions and reducing the need for frequent maintenance or replacement of components.
 
Machine Vision
 
In machine vision, accurate color and thermal management are crucial to system performance. Hot mirrors are integrated to protect sensitive sensors from the heat generated by constant lighting, ensuring consistent operation without heat damage. This is especially important in high-speed or high-precision applications where even minor thermal variations can affect the accuracy of inspections or measurements.
 
Digital Projection
 
Hot mirrors play a significant role in digital projectors, where they prevent excessive heat from reaching the LCD or DLP panels, which could affect image quality and lifespan. By reflecting away the infrared radiation, these mirrors ensure that only visible light is used to create the projected image, resulting in a more reliable and stable projection system with reduced risk of overheating and thermal damage.
 
Medical Equipment
 
Medical equipment, particularly devices that use intense light sources for procedures or diagnostics, often incorporates hot mirrors to reduce the heat transfer to patient tissue and the instrument itself. This helps maintain a safe operational temperature, enhancing patient comfort and protecting sensitive components of the medical device.
 
Laser Systems
 
Hot mirrors find applications in laser systems where they serve to shield components from the thermal effects of infrared lasers. In systems that require the use of visible light lasers or a combination of laser types, hot mirrors can help manage the thermal load, ensuring that only the desired light spectrum interacts with the target.
 
Display Technology
 
Many display technologies, including those found in retail and museum settings, use hot mirrors to protect displays from the heat produced by lighting. This results in clearer and more color-accurate displays that can operate for extended periods without heat damage, enhancing the viewer’s experience and preserving the displayed items.
 
Scientific Instruments
 
In various scientific instruments, hot mirrors are applied to filter out infrared radiation that might interfere with sensitive experiments or measurements. They are critical in spectroscopy, microscopy, and other research applications where precise temperature control and light management are needed to obtain accurate results.
 
The integration of hot mirrors across these fields underscores their significance in contemporary technology, where managing light and heat is essential for system performance and longevity. With their ability to selectively reflect infrared radiation without affecting visible light, hot mirrors provide an elegant solution to thermal challenges in optical applications, and their use is expected to expand alongside advancements in technology and industry demands.