ASAP®, the Advanced Systems Analysis Program, will model the finest details of optical systems, which means ASAP users can depend on their simulations to mirror real-world performance. Optical system designers in 35 countries rely on ASAP for virtual prototyping with great accuracy and confidence. ASAP analyses validate designs and support smooth transitions to manufacturing. There is no substitute.

ASAP is a comprehensive set of modeling features capable of modeling more optical phenomena in a single package than any other software application available. These features make up a sophisticated, powerful toolkit for optical-system designers in search of design-validating results. ASAP features have been implemented to be intuitive to learn and apply. With a reasonable time investment, these features are accessible to anyone in need of optical modeling software to support product development.

BRO offers a full suite of Optics Training Classes to enable ASAP users to efficiently and accurately solve their optical challenges. Courses include the introductory ASAP tutorial, application-specific ASAP tutorials, and custom training to meet client needs. In addition, a comprehensive set of training and support documents is available in the BRO Knowledge Base.

ASAP scripting is one of many ways to enter system geometry into the application. Since ASAP is often used in concert with sequential ray-tracing tools, certain configurations of ASAP include integrated translators for popular lens-design applications. CAD users are able to open native CAA V5 CATIA® files from within ASAP, write ASAP-specific GTX files from within SolidWorks®, and import IGES, DXF, and XML files from any CAD application.

The ASAP script language creates surfaces that are optimized for ray tracing. This is a key difference between ASAP and other optical software packages powered by solid-modeling engines or coupled directly to CAD programs. These packages often produce geometry elements that are not optimized for ray-tracing engines. Investing the time to model key geometry components within ASAP also makes the full functionality of the ASAP script language accessible, including the ability to automate analyses of multiple design iterations using system parameterization.

ASAP scripting is much more than a way to enter system geometry into the application. It is a tool to ask precise questions about the way light behaves in optical systems.

With minimal keystrokes, ASAP users can analyze light propagation in steps, filter out important subsets of rays being traced through a system model, and interrogate the paths of individual rays or subsets of rays.

ASAP scripting is also a powerful tool to build parameterization, iteration, macro language, and branching into system models. ASAP script users are able to vary key parameters and then optimize systems around these parameters. They can build “IF”, “THEN” and “ELSE” statements into models, and even write their own menu-driven programs with user-defined macros.

All ASAP configurations include integrated scripting support for Python, VBScript, JScript, PerlScript, LUAScript, Object Rexx, and DMDScript. The full functionality of the ASAP script language can be accessed from these alternate programming languages. No other optical software application offers such a comprehensive list of scripting options.

ASAP is in continuous development by a team dedicated solely to enhancing ASAP. The ASAP development team continues to work on kernel enhancements, next-generation CAD interoperability, user-interface features, and product styling. ASAP development efforts are supported by a full-time quality control engineer, and a team of technical support engineers — most with Ph.D.s in optical science. All ASAP development efforts follow the “best practices” outlined within the SEI CMMI Capability Maturity Model.

Please Request a Quote. We think you will find one of our product configurations to be exactly what you need for your optical design tasks, and its pricing quite reasonable for the value it will add to your product development efforts.