Skip to main content

toSurface parameter behavior in batch ray trace

  • October 14, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 67 views
Adub
Ansys Staff

Hi, 

I tried to trace some ray in C++ through a simple test lens file with two surfaces after the lens and the IMAGE surface (see file).

I create a batch with CreateDirectunpol() function but I noticed two behaviors that seemed strange to me : 

  • when I set  toSurface  parameter to a negative number (CreateDirectUnpol(1000, RaysType_Paraxial, 0, -1)  for example), no error are thrown, and the function does not return nullptr. Even more strange, I could add rays, trace them and read output result. Obviously, rays were unchanged.
  • when I set toSurface parameter to TheSystem->LDE->NumberOfSurfaces, I have the exact same output as TheSystem->LDE->NumberOfSurfaces - 1.

Do you have any explanation for these behaviors ?

Thanks

 

Did this topic help you find an answer to your question?

1 reply

David.Nguyen
Luminary
Forum|alt.badge.img+2
  • David.Nguyen
  • Luminary
  • 1089 replies
  • October 15, 2021

Hi Adub,

 

From what I know there isn’t systematic error handling in the ZOS-API, and developers have been focused on incorporating all the analysis features as opposed to fixing and polishing a subset of those. I’m not particularly surprised by your discovery. If you search for those behaviours, you’ll find plenty of them, I guess the important bit is whether it stops you from doing your work.

As for your second issue, I think the surfaces start at zero, so if you have five surfaces, their indices will be 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. However, the NumberOfSurfaces will be 5, and 5 is not a valid index, therefore its showing you the same behaviour as -1 which isn’t a valid index either.

Let me know if this makes sense.

Take care,

 

David

Reply


Community Posting GuidelinesCookie settings

Cookie policy

We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience. If you accept you agree to our full cookie policy. Learn more about our cookies.

 
Cookie settings


Zemax Community

Need more help?

To Chinese users:

Do not provide any information or data that is restricted by applicable law, including by the People’s Republic of China’s Cybersecurity and Data Security Laws ( e.g., Important Data, National Core Data, etc.).


不要提供任何受适用法律，包括中华人民共和国的网络安全和数据安全法限制的信息或数据（如重要数据、国家核心数据等）。



Privacy policy   License Agreements    Terms of use    Cookie Policy   Zemax Account Licensing Policies