Notice

The following event has been postponed due to travel and public health concerns.  We are looking forward to welcoming Stephen D Fantone at a better time in the future.

Anywhere Light Goes™

A Way of Thinking About Optics

Stephen D Fantone, Optikos

Abstract

In its earliest days, the field of optical engineering was focused on lens design and straightforward imaging systems. With each decade came hot new technologies and the sometimes rapid rise and fall of companies looking to profit quickly from them. From the early commercial copiers and instant cameras to large scale reconnaissance systems to fiber optics, digital cameras and now lidar—Optikos has managed to stay the course. How have we done it? This talk is about taking a broad view, being open to any challenge, and staying nimble as technologies emerge, adapt, and sometimes die while others leap from a seemingly brash idea to a billion dollar business.

About the speaker

Stephen D. Fantone received his S.B. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Management from MIT, and his Ph.D. from The Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester.

Dr. Fantone is the founder and president of Optikos Corporation, an engineering and instrumentation firm that provides innovative applications of optical technology, both products and services, to commercial, government, and consumer products organizations worldwide. The Company uses optics as an enabling technology for clients who are developing medical devices and diagnostics, virtual reality and consumer products, aerospace and defense systems, automotive sensing and imaging, and countless other applications. Optikos also develops and markets metrology instruments that assess the quality of imaging systems. The Optikos® engineering team is the largest independent optical engineering group in the world, managing all aspects of instrument design on-site--including optics, mechanics, electronics and software systems.

Dr. Fantone’s connection to the University of Rochester includes serving on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and on the Director’s Advisory Committee at The Institute of Optics; and he has received both the University’s Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Scholar Awards. He also has a strong, lifelong connection to The Optical Society—he is an OSA Fellow, served as its Treasurer for over 18 years, and is currently serving as OSA president. He joined The Optical Society as an undergraduate student in 1973, and has served in numerous other roles over the past four and a half decades.

Dr. Fantone serves on the board of the Hertz Foundation and as Chairman of the Pioneer Institute, a Boston-based public policy think tank. Previous board membership included Zygo Corporation, Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc. and Benthos, Inc. (Chairman). He is often consulted for his expertise in optical engineering and optical product development, has served on numerous program review panels, provided expert testimony on patent infringement and trade secret litigation cases, and been awarded over 65 patents covering a broad range of optical technologies.

During his time in Rochester as a graduate student, Dr. Fantone developed many close ties to both the community and the University. His wife, Betsy (Wayne) grew up in Seneca Falls; his sons Dennis and Stephen J. are graduates of the Institute of Optics; and his family summers on Cayuga Lake, where they renovated and restored The Pumphouse—now a gathering place for four generations of the family.

Pre-talk dinner 

Pre-talk dinner with guest speaker Stephen D Fantone will be held at 5:30 PM at King and I Restaurant, 1455 E Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY 14623, prior to the talk. Contact the House Committee by email for dinner reservations. Email: house@osarochester.org