Electro-Optical Systems: Making It All Work

by Philip C.D. Hobbs

Praise for the "First Edition""Now a new laboratory bible for optics researchers has joined the list: it is Phil Hobbs's "Building Electro-Optical Systems: Making It All Work.""
--Tony Siegman, "Optics & Photonics News"

Building a modern electro-optical instrument may be the most interdisciplinary job in all of engineering. Be it a DVD player or a laboratory one-off, it involves physics, electrical engineering, optical engineering, and computer science interacting in complex ways. This book will help all kinds of technical people sort through the complexity and build electro-optical systems that just work, with maximum insight and minimum trial and error.

Written in an engaging and conversational style, this "Second Edition" has been updated and expanded over the previous edition to reflect technical advances and a great many conversations with working designers. Key features of this new edition include: Expanded coverage of detectors, lasers, photon budgets, signal processing scheme planning, and front endsCoverage of everything from basic theory and measurement principles to design debugging and integration of optical and electronic systemsSupplementary material is available on an ftp site, including an additional chapter on thermal Control and Chapter problems highly relevant to real-world designExtensive coverage of high performance optical detection and laser noise cancellation

Each chapter is full of useful lore from the author's years of experience building advanced instruments. For more background, an appendix lists 100 good books in all relevant areas, introductory as well as advanced. "Building Electro-Optical Systems: Making It All Work," Second Edition is essential reading for researchers, students, and professionals who have systems to build.

Genres: Engineering, Science

820 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2000

Reviews

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best technical books I've ever found. rare and valuable collection of engineering advice and wisdom gained from years of experience and "tribal knowledge". designing an electro-optical device is a daunting task, and Mr. Hobbs disseminates pithy, often hilarious explanations on what to do and what not to do in order to reach the finish line, including probing commentary on the nature of the "finish line" itself. invaluable resource for young, idealistic scientists and engineers like myself. Hobbs is unique as an author in that his lab-tested insights into optical system prototyping and electronic system prototyping are equally strong. highest recommendation.

[Andrej · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An excellent practical book for engineers building optical systems. The first part is about optical components, and what's going on in them. The second part focuses on assembling optical systems. The style is approachable and often funny. The main message reiterated in every single paragraphs is somewhat less funny: there are a lot of trade-offs and many things can go wrong.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are ever working in optical systems you should read this book. It tells you what you need to know and does so in a extremely accessible and practical manner.

[Willow Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six stars. This is the second most remarkable book of hardware lore I've ever found.