My name is Stephan Clark Ph.D. I worked in the optics field for about 17 years before I started my own company, Clark Optical Consulting and Prototyping, LLC. During those years, I worked in optical design and opto-mechanical design. I worked in the test and measurement field, consumer products field and on DARPA projects with the government. Actually my very first project was a DARPA project, working to develop novel testing tools for conformal missile domes. Our work at the University of Arizona dealt with multiple testing areas: interferometry, wave front sensing and also non-contact profilometry. I developed my first optical device during that time, the Optical Reference Profilometer. I spent nearly four years working on novel opto-mechanical referencing configurations in order to make the best system possible.
After that I moved onto optical fiber test and measurement equipment. I worked on the Optical Spectrum Analyzer. It was a grating based Littrow-mount spectrometer for measuring laser and LED light characteristics. Optical models were key to troubleshooting as well as developing next generation spectrometers for the ever advancing optical fiber communications field. From there I moved on to the optical design of digital projectors, rear projection TVs, color sensors and drop detectors and then another DARPA project dealing with high concentration solar cells. Optical modeling for non-imaging optics became vital for these projects along with novel opto-mechanical designs to make each system function.
Although very different from each other, each project had something special. Working on a variety of projects is exciting to me. Learning new things and seeing new ideas come to life is my passion. I started Clark Optical Consulting and Prototyping, LLC in order to continue learning new things and help others with their optical design ideas. At Clark Optical Consulting and Prototyping, LLC, I offer optical design, prototyping and consulting services in the optics and opto-mechanical fields and I hope to hear from you soon.
