TECHNOLOGY 

Optical Coatings Japan

Since its incorporation in 1946, Optical Coatings Japan has striven for the development, standardization, innovation and integration of optical thin-film coating technologies on the basis of the vacuum evaporation process. The plasma ion process is the most advanced technology among those developed by the company. This epoch-making technology has dramatically upgraded the accuracy, durability and reliability of optical thin-film coatings The plasma ion process has made it possible to meet any customer requirements and objectives with coatings of reliable performance and quality. 

Vacuum Deposition

High frequency ion plating technology
High durability deep type cold mirror technology

Thin Film Technology  

High performance laser mirror technology  
Perfect anti-reflection film technology 

Continuously developing leading technologies in the field of thin film optics as our enterprise oriented towards technology development.

In the vacuum evaporation process for thin film coatings, plasma ion bombardment enables us to produce ultra-hard films by the presence of plasma in the evaporation chamber. In its development efforts, OCJ improved this technology and established the plasma ion process. With the supply of high-frequency electric power, this original process, which is patented in Japan and the United States, ensures stable mass production of quality coatings. Based, on the expertise accumulated over many years and its original devices, OCJ has further improved this technology and produces highly precise coatings. 

Uniform film thickness and quality produce precise thin- film coatings. This allows the realization of highly accurate wavelengths and optical characteristics of film-coated products. 

In the environment of high temperature and humidity, OCJ film-coated products maintain their optical characteristics and design performance without change. 

Components of optical communication systems must keep their stability in performance for more than 20 years. Even in harsh environments, OCJ film-coated products maintain reliable performance for a long period of time. 

Multiple accumulation of expertise in all operations results in high customer satisfaction

OCJ is a technical development corporation whose core technology is the plasma ion process. However, this is not only the feature of the company. In marketing, designing, manufacturing and even trivial matters along production lines, you can find the fruits of OCJ accumulated experience and expertise. No matter how superior it may be, technology may not always work without some small defect somewhere in its application. With its technological competitiveness throughout operations, OCJ realizes perfect design and manufacturing processes, thereby producing quality products to customer satisfaction. 

After the design stage, the entire production process is carried out with meticulous management, starting from the procurement of substrate materials and ending at the shipment of finished products, in concert with marketing and engineering divisions. Through intensive schedule management, cost management and quality control, products of the required quality are manufactured within the designated time. 

Based on a thorough study of user's requirements for development, film-coated optical products are designed with the assistance of computer-aided designing systems with OCJ's own programming. Primary designs are presented to users for their critical examination and optimization of specifications. In this process, OCJ offers practical proposals from the viewpoint of a manufacturer to further improve the performance and value of user's devices equipped with our products. For the production of a new model, we manufacture prototypes to examine their completeness and practicability.

Purchase orders are issued to procure the substrate materials to fulfill design criteria in terms of quality as well as dimensional accuracy. These materials normally include glass, Germanium and Silicon. Acceptance inspection is conducted on the materials delivered to us by means of a spectrophotometer and other instruments. 

To ensure proper vacuum evaporation, substrate materials are ultrasonically cleaned to remove particles, fats and oils, stains and other impurities, thus providing clean surfaces. 

To increase productivity and stabilize vacuum evaporation, substrate materials are set on our unique dome-shaped jigs.

Under conditions of high accuracy film thickness control, a coating material is heated and evaporated in a vacuum evaporator, and the film is deposited on the substrate material.  

After the evaporation, the jig is removed from the evaporation machine by automatic hand and , the coated substrates are removed from the jig.  

Bandpass filters for optical communications and light pick-up filters are precisely cut into unit products by dicing machine.

Products for combined characteristics and those which need correction or film protection are precisely adhered to each other by means of epoxy or adhesives cured by UV.

As a responsible and reliable producer, we critically inspect finished products with respect to their spectral and phase characteristics, dimensional accuracy, external appearance and other factors. 

Integrated approach to quality with multi- technique analysis of materials and products promotes quality improvement

Product quality generally depends on the entire production process. It can be said in other words that product quality is governed by the determination and organization of the manufacturer. This is the reason that adequate instructions should he given to relevant departments on the basis of the objective information obtained by real-time analysis of products. In OCJ, the quality control division manages the aforesaid functions in cooperation with the design and production departments. By making the most use of sophisticated instruments such as the electron microscope, spectrophotometer and laser interferometer, we constantly analyze materials and products to further improve the quality and reliability of OCJ products.

As the most important measurement in quality control, this enables high grade production. Picture

Spectral characteristics of narrow band (transmittance and reflectance) are measured at high resolution. These data are utilized for quality management of components for optical communication. Picture

For quantitative and qualitative analysis of film construction, observation of thin film composition and analysis of element and foreign materials are carried out. Picture

Phase retardation, optical constants and film thickness are measured. The data are utilized for quality management for optical pick-up. Picture

Surface accuracy of substrate (flatness) and other characteristics are measured by laser beam interference. Picture

In order to test durability under long term harsh environments and to confirm any change of characteristics, the following tests are carried out:

 - Heat shock test
 - Heat cycle test
 - Temperature and moisture test
 - High temperature test
 - Pressurized moisture test

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