What Optical Research Associates does

Optical Research Associates (ORA), founded in 1963 by Thomas I. Harris in Pasadena, California, is the originator of CODE V, an industry-leading optical design and ray tracing software for imaging optics. The company developed and commercialized a comprehensive suite of optical engineering tools spanning imaging design (CODE V), illumination simulation (LightTools), end-to-end imaging system simulation (ImSym), automotive exterior lighting design (LucidShape), optical appearance visualization (VisionSym), and nanoscale photonic device simulation (RSoft Photonic Device Tools). ORA's technology stack is rooted in proprietary ray-tracing algorithms validated over six decades, augmented by the SmartStart optical component library and in-house light scattering measurement hardware (TIS Pro, Mini-Diff, REFLET 180S).

ORA was acquired by Synopsys, becoming the foundation of its Optical Solutions Group, and the unit was subsequently divested by Synopsys and acquired by Keysight Technologies. Today, the ORA portfolio operates within Keysight, with customer engagement conducted through enterprise direct sales. Revenue is generated via three streams: subscription/recurring software licenses across six core products, professional optical engineering services, and hardware sales of scattering measurement instruments. The primary customer verticals are aerospace (LiDAR, cameras, telescopes, spectrometers), AR/VR (advanced optics and components), automotive (interior and exterior lighting, sensors), and emerging metalenses/photonics applications. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales are quote-based via direct enterprise engagement.

Name

Optical Research Associates

Legal name

Optical Research Associates

Website

https://opticalres.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Unknown

Short description

Optical Research Associates, founded in 1963 in Pasadena, develops optical design and simulation software (notably CODE V, LightTools, and RSoft) plus scattering measurement hardware, serving aerospace, automotive, AR/VR, and photonics engineering customers via enterprise software licenses. The company was acquired by Synopsys, then divested to Keysight.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Design Software

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)

Keywords

• Optical design software
• Ray tracing simulation
• Illumination design tools
• Automotive lighting software
• Photonic device simulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Optical design software sold as licenses with upgrade options. Products include CODE V, LightTools, LucidShape, ImSym, VisionSym, and RSoft Photonic Device Tools.
2. Optical Engineering Services: Expert imaging, illumination, and systems engineering services to help solve optical design challenges
3. Hardware Products: Optical scattering measurement products including TIS Pro, Mini-Diff, and REFLET 180S

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Optical Research Associates develops optical design and analysis software solutions, including ray tracing tools for imaging optics, illumination design software, automotive exterior lighting simulation, and photonic device simulation tools. The portfolio supports design, optimization, fabrication, and visualization of optical systems across aerospace, AR/VR, automotive, and photonics applications. Supporting offerings include optical scattering measurement hardware and professional optical engineering services.

Product overview

Synopsys' Optical Solutions (formerly Optical Research Associates) provides a comprehensive portfolio of optical design software and services for imaging, illumination, automotive lighting, and photonics applications. The core products include CODE V for imaging optics design and ray tracing, LightTools for illumination design and simulation, ImSym for end-to-end imaging system simulation powered by CODE V and LightTools, and LucidShape for automotive exterior lighting design and real-time night driving simulation. VisionSym provides optical visualization for validating lit and unlit appearance of illumination optics. The RSoft Photonic Device Tools suite offers simulators and optimizers for passive and active nanoscale devices and metaoptics. Supporting offerings include optical scattering measurement hardware (TIS Pro, Mini-Diff, REFLET 180S) and professional optical engineering services. Note: Synopsys' Optical Solutions Group has been acquired by Keysight.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CODE V: Leading optical design software for imaging optics design, optimization, and fabrication

Products and services

• CODE V Optical design and ray tracing software for designing, optimizing, and fabricating reliable imaging optics, used by aerospace, AR/VR, and precision optics engineers.
• LightTools Illumination design software environment for modeling, simulating, optimizing, and visualizing illumination optics.
• ImSym End-to-end simulation platform for imaging systems, integrating CODE V and LightTools capabilities.
• LucidShape Software for designing exterior automotive lighting systems and simulating night driving in real time.
• VisionSym Optical visualization software that validates lit and unlit appearance of illumination optics models with high accuracy.
• RSoft Photonic Device Tools Suite of simulators and optimizers for both passive and active nanoscale photonic devices, including metaoptics.
• RSoft Photonic Device Compiler Compiler component within the RSoft Photonic Device Tools suite for photonic device design.
• Optical Engineering Services Professional imaging, illumination, and systems engineering services to help customers solve optical design challenges.
• Optical Scattering Measurement Products Optical scattering measurement hardware products including TIS Pro, Mini-Diff, and REFLET 180S, used to obtain precision light scattering data.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Keysight TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeysight acquired Synopsys' Optical Solutions Group. The acquisition transfers ownership of CODE V, ImSym, LightTools, LucidShape, VisionSym, RSoft Photonic Device Tools, RSoft Photonic Device Compiler, SmartStart Library, optical scattering measurement products (TIS Pro, Mini-Diff, REFLET 180S), and optical engineering services to Keysight.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• COMSOL: Multiphysics simulation platform that includes ray optics and wave optics modules, offering an alternative integrated environment for optical engineers evaluating CODE V/LightTools.
• Synopsys (Photonic Solutions): Former owner of the Optical Solutions Group; retains photonic IP and TCAD simulation tools that overlap with RSoft, and is a key ecosystem participant in photonics design.
• Ansys: Broad simulation incumbent owning Zemax and Lumerical; overlaps with ORA's Optical Solutions via multiphysics and optics modules, and is Keysight's most direct large-platform competitor.

Others

• MathWorks: MATLAB provides custom numerical and optimization frameworks used by optical engineers; not a direct competitor but a substitute platform for in-house optical design workflows.

Emerging players

• LightTrans International: Specialist in physical optics propagation and laser cavity design (VirtualLab), adjacent to but narrower than CODE V/LightTools in scope.

Direct peers

• Photon Design: Provides photonic device and circuit simulation tools (FIMMWAVE, PICWave) that overlap with ORA's RSoft Photonic Device Tools suite.
• Lambda Research Corporation: Developer of TracePro, an illumination and stray-light analysis tool that overlaps directly with LightTools, plus optical engineering services comparable to ORA's.
• Zemax (Ansys): Direct competitor to CODE V in optical design and ray-tracing software, now owned by Ansys. Competes head-to-head for the same optical engineer seat base across imaging and illumination design.
• Lumerical (Ansys): Specialist in photonic and nanophotonic device simulation — a close substitute for RSoft in silicon photonics and metasurface design workflows.
• Breault Research Organization: Long-standing competitor offering APEX optical design software and engineering services; competes with CODE V and LightTools in illumination and imaging optics workflows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/synopsysoptical
• Facebookfacebook.com/synopsys-optical-solutions-61890493450

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Optical Research Associates