Optical Glass for Automotive Cameras

Optical Glass for Automotive Cameras

Since many automotive cameras are affixed to the outside of vehicles, high chemical durability is needed for the front lens in particular. When the chemical durability of the glass is good, the cloudiness due to corrosion on the lens surface is minimal even when in contact with outside air and therefore provides continued clear lens visibility.


Glass types with good Water resistance [RW(p)]
Glass types with good Acid resistance [RA(p)]



Automotive cameras that are mounted outside of the vehicle are likely to be in contact with atmospheric dust and small rocks kicked up by other vehicles nearby. This may adversely affect camera lenses with scratches occurring on the surface of the lens. Therefore optical glass types which are not easily scratched should be included in front lens design.
Glass types to consider that have good Impact Strength

Type | Code | nc | nd | nF | ng | vd | s.g. | Coloring | |
S-BSL7 | 516641 | 1.51386 | 1.51633 | 1.52191 | 1.52621 | 64.14 | 2.52 | 330/285 | |
S-FSL5 | 487702 | 1.48534 | 1.48749 | 1.49228 | 1.49596 | 70.23 | 2.46 | 300/265 | |
S-LAH55VS | 835427 | 1.82899 | 1.83481 | 1.84852 | 1.85955 | 42.74 | 4.58 | 395/320 | |
S-LAH65V | 804466 | 1.79882 | 1.80400 | 1.81608 | 1.82569 | 46.58 | 4.72 | 385/315 | |
S-LAH65VS | 804465 | 1.79882 | 1.80400 | 1.81610 | 1.82573 | 46.53 | 4.46 | 380/310 | |
S-LAL21 | 703524 | 1.69895 | 1.70300 | 1.71237 | 1.71976 | 52.38 | 3.85 | 395/320 | More Info |
S-LAL54Q | 651562 | 1.64747 | 1.65100 | 1.65905 | 1.66532 | 56.24 | 3.36 | 385/- | More Info |
S-PHM52Q | 618633 | 1.61550 | 1.61800 | 1.62479 | 1.63008 | 63.32 | 3.51 | 365/325 |

Automotive cameras are set in various places both inside and outside of the vehicle. Since cars are used in environments where the temperature range can vary widely from below zero in colder climates to more than 50�C inside a car on a summer day, temperature change and thermal shock can drastically affect the imaging functionality of the camera lenses. In some cases, thermal stress can even lead to cracks in a lens. Therefore refractive index fluctuations should certainly be a consideration. By designing the automotive camera system to include optical glasses developed with thermal shock in mind, adjustments to temperature change can be handled within the optical system efficiently.
Glass types to consider that have good Thermal Shock Resistance

Type | Code | nc | nd | nF | ng | vd | s.g. | Coloring | |
S-BSL7 | 516641 | 1.51386 | 1.51633 | 1.52191 | 1.52621 | 64.14 | 2.52 | 330/285 | |
S-FSL5 | 487702 | 1.48534 | 1.48749 | 1.49228 | 1.49596 | 70.23 | 2.46 | 300/265 | |
S-LAH55V | 835427 | 1.82898 | 1.83481 | 1.84852 | 1.85956 | 42.73 | 4.73 | 400/325 | |
S-LAH65V | 804466 | 1.79882 | 1.80400 | 1.81608 | 1.82569 | 46.58 | 4.72 | 385/315 | |
S-LAL21 | 703524 | 1.69895 | 1.70300 | 1.71237 | 1.71976 | 52.38 | 3.85 | 395/320 | More Info |
S-LAL7 | 652585 | 1.64821 | 1.65160 | 1.65934 | 1.66537 | 58.55 | 3.73 | 345/275 | |
S-LAL54Q | 651562 | 1.64747 | 1.65100 | 1.65905 | 1.66532 | 56.24 | 3.36 | 385/- | More Info |
S-LAM60 | 743493 | 1.73865 | 1.74320 | 1.75372 | 1.76205 | 49.34 | 4.06 | 375/330 | |
S-TIM8 | 596392 | 1.59103 | 1.59551 | 1.60621 | 1.61501 | 39.24 | 2.63 | 380/350 |

When the surrounding temperature changes, refractive indices may change as well. This refractive indices change is known as thermal coefficient of refractive indices, or dndT, and can vary depending on wavelength and/or temperature range. Automotive camera lens systems are set in various places both inside and outside of the vehicle. Since cars are used in environments with wide ranges in temperature, the refractive indices of the lens can change. As a result, the focal point can often shift and it may be impossible to obtain clear images. Therefore it is crucial to design automotive camera lens systems using a combination of optical glasses that do not change, even if the surrounding temperature does.
dn/dT and Optical path length
Change in temperature could cause a change in the refractive indices of optical glass and the material may expand as well. Therefore, in order to examine how the optical path length can change, both dn/dT and Coefficient of thermal expansion need to be considered. The relation between dn/dT and Coefficient of thermal expansion for Optical path length is as follows:
Glass types to consider that have unique dn/dT
Glass types to consider that have similar optical properties, but different dn/dT


Type | Code | nc | nd | nF | ng | vd | s.g. | Coloring | |
S-FPL55 | 439948 | 1.43733 | 1.43875 | 1.44196 | 1.44444 | 94.66 | 3.59 | 335/290 | |
S-LAH52Q | 800422 | 1.79389 | 1.79952 | 1.81282 | 1.82356 | 42.24 | 4.47 | 390/335 | More Info |
S-LAH53V | 806409 | 1.80026 | 1.80610 | 1.81995 | 1.83121 | 40.93 | 4.41 | 400/345 | |
S-LAH60V | 834372 | 1.82740 | 1.83400 | 1.84981 | 1.86283 | 37.21 | 4.43 | 430/350 | |
S-LAH88 | 917316 | 1.90803 | 1.91650 | 1.93703 | 1.95418 | 31.60 | 4.74 | (400)/355 | |
S-LAL20 | 699511 | 1.69520 | 1.69930 | 1.70888 | 1.71647 | 51.11 | 4.38 | 370/310 | More Info |
S-LAM3 | 717479 | 1.71253 | 1.71700 | 1.72749 | 1.73587 | 47.92 | 4.25 | 385/340 | |
S-LAM73 | 794371 | 1.78732 | 1.79360 | 1.80872 | 1.82119 | 37.09 | 4.45 | 415/350 | More Info |
S-NPH1W | 808228 | 1.79801 | 1.80809 | 1.83351 | 1.85590 | 22.76 | 3.29 | 420/375 | |
S-NPH7 | 778239 | 1.76902 | 1.77830 | 1.80157 | 1.82191 | 23.91 | 3.30 | 420/370 | More Info |
Type | Code | nc | nd | nF | ng | vd | s.g. | Coloring | |
S-BSL7 | 516641 | 1.51386 | 1.51633 | 1.52191 | 1.52621 | 64.14 | 2.52 | 330/285 | |
S-LAH52 | 800422 | 1.79388 | 1.79952 | 1.81281 | 1.82355 | 42.22 | 4.41 | 400/330 | |
S-LAH52Q | 800422 | 1.79389 | 1.79952 | 1.81282 | 1.82356 | 42.24 | 4.47 | 390/335 | More Info |
S-LAH53 | 806409 | 1.80024 | 1.80610 | 1.81996 | 1.83117 | 40.92 | 4.49 | 405/340 | |
S-LAH53V | 806409 | 1.80026 | 1.80610 | 1.81995 | 1.83121 | 40.93 | 4.41 | 400/345 | |
S-LAH60 | 834372 | 1.82738 | 1.83400 | 1.84982 | 1.86278 | 37.16 | 4.43 | 420/340 | |
S-LAH60V | 834372 | 1.82740 | 1.83400 | 1.84981 | 1.86283 | 37.21 | 4.43 | 430/350 | |
S-LAH63 | 804396 | 1.79838 | 1.80440 | 1.81870 | 1.83034 | 39.59 | 4.34 | 410/340 | |
S-LAH63Q | 804396 | 1.79840 | 1.8044 | 1.81872 | 1.83043 | 39.58 | 4.45 | 415/345 | More Info |
S-LAL21 | 703524 | 1.69895 | 1.70300 | 1.71237 | 1.71976 | 52.38 | 3.85 | 395/320 | More Info |
S-LAL54 | 651562 | 1.64749 | 1.65100 | 1.65908 | 1.66543 | 56.16 | 3.82 | 365/325 | |
S-LAL54Q | 651562 | 1.64747 | 1.65100 | 1.65905 | 1.66532 | 56.24 | 3.36 | 385/- | More Info |
S-NPH1 | 808228 | 1.79801 | 1.80809 | 1.83351 | 1.85590 | 22.76 | 3.29 | 445/375 |

Wavelengths that are longer than the range visible to human eyes are designated as the infrared region. There are three types:
Automotive Cameras in Near-infrared (NIR)
Optical lens systems used for automotive cameras need to have a certain degree of clear visibility at night as well as during the day. If an optical system has been optimized to correct aberration in the visible region, the aberration in the near-infrared region (NIR) will still have issues with image blurring due to limited light. By correcting aberration up to NIR, clear images can be obtained during day or night.
Glass types to consider that have unique
- Far-infrared (FIR) – used primarily for thermography
- Mid-infrared (MIR) – used primarily for laser processing
- Near-infrared (NIR) – used at night or in dark environments for ‘night-vision’ camera



Type | Code | nc | nd | nF | ng | vd | s.g. | Coloring | |
S-FPL51 | 497816 | 1.49514 | 1.49700 | 1.50123 | 1.50451 | 81.54 | 3.62 | 340/290 | |
S-FPL53 | 439950 | 1.43733 | 1.43875 | 1.44195 | 1.44442 | 94.93 | 3.62 | 330/275 | |
S-FPL55 | 439948 | 1.43733 | 1.43875 | 1.44196 | 1.44444 | 94.66 | 3.59 | 335/290 | |
S-BAL2 | 571508 | 1.56762 | 1.57099 | 1.57886 | 1.58514 | 50.80 | 2.89 | 370/335 | |
S-BAL3 | 571530 | 1.56810 | 1.57135 | 1.57889 | 1.58489 | 52.95 | 2.98 | 360/330 | |
S-LAH63Q | 804396 | 1.79840 | 1.8044 | 1.81872 | 1.83043 | 39.58 | 4.45 | 415/345 | More Info |
S-LAL20 | 699511 | 1.69520 | 1.69930 | 1.70888 | 1.71647 | 51.11 | 4.38 | 370/310 | More Info |
S-LAL21 | 703524 | 1.69895 | 1.70300 | 1.71237 | 1.71976 | 52.38 | 3.85 | 395/320 | More Info |
S-LAM73 | 794371 | 1.78732 | 1.79360 | 1.80872 | 1.82119 | 37.09 | 4.45 | 415/350 | More Info |
S-NBH5 | 654397 | 1.64923 | 1.65412 | 1.66571 | 1.67517 | 39.68 | 3.02 | 370/325 | |
S-NBH8 | 720347 | 1.71437 | 1.72047 | 1.73512 | 1.74723 | 34.71 | 3.19 | 390/330 | |
S-NBH51 | 750353 | 1.74326 | 1.74950 | 1.76447 | 1.77681 | 35.33 | 3.29 | 400/330 | |
S-NBH52V | 673383 | 1.66779 | 1.67300 | 1.68538 | 1.69551 | 38.26 | 3.01 | 360/320 | |
S-NBH53V | 738323 | 1.73132 | 1.73800 | 1.75415 | 1.76762 | 32.33 | 3.19 | 385/330 | |
S-NBH56 | 855248 | 1.84488 | 1.85478 | 1.87935 | 1.90045 | 24.80 | 3.49 | (395)/360 | |
S-NBH58 | 789284 | 1.78076 | 1.78880 | 1.80850 | 1.82518 | 28.43 | 3.33 | 410/345 | More Info |
S-NBM51 | 613443 | 1.60925 | 1.61340 | 1.62311 | 1.63091 | 44.27 | 2.93 | 350/320 | |
S-NPH7 | 778239 | 1.76902 | 1.77830 | 1.80157 | 1.82191 | 23.91 | 3.30 | 420/370 | More Info |
S-PHM52 | 618634 | 1.61504 | 1.61800 | 1.62479 | 1.63010 | 63.33 | 3.67 | 370/325 | |
S-PHM52Q | 618633 | 1.61550 | 1.61800 | 1.62479 | 1.63008 | 63.32 | 3.51 | 365/325 | |
S-PHM53 | 603655 | 1.60019 | 1.60300 | 1.60940 | 1.61438 | 65.44 | 3.51 | 360/300 |