History of Optical Sensor Systems

The ongoing development of optical measuring instruments at the end of the 19th century played a key role in the increasing international success of Carl Zeiss. In 1890 Carl Pulfrich, the inventor of stereo photogrammetry, came to Jena. In order to promote the development of optical systems for chemical analysis, he founded the Optical Measuring Instruments division. He became its head two years later.

After the Second World War and the partition of Germany, Carl Zeiss was also separated. In addition to the traditional site in Jena, there was now a new firm in Oberkochen. It was not until 1952 that the Optical Measuring Instruments division was able to offer the entire pre-war product line again. Initially, the range of optical metrology instruments was offered both in Jena and Oberkochen. After reunification of the two companies large parts of the optical metrology area were sold in 1994. The remaining department, which specialized primarily in process analytics, is now part of the Microscopy business group.

Chemical analytical technology boasts over 100 years of innovation and development history at Carl Zeiss. With the first Abbe refractometer in 1874 and the Pulfrich refractor in 1895, Carl Zeiss laid the foundation for materials analysis. Over the course of the years, Carl Zeiss has sharpened its focus on the field of spectroscopy, in which radiation is dispersed according to its energy. Major innovations here include, for example, the SPEKOL in the 1960s and the LMA 1® Laser Micro Spectral Analyzer.

Since 1985, Carl Zeiss has truly revolutionized the field of spectrometry from ultraviolet light to the near infrared range with its diode array spectrometers of the MMS, MCS and PGS lines.