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CrystaLens Optics

Updated

CrystaLens (also written “CrystaLens Optics” or “CrystaLens Optics Technology”) is TMT’s name for the lens optics used on its LED modules. This article summarises how TMT describes it and which products its sources link to the name. Descriptions below are TMT’s own claims, not independent measurements.

What TMT says it is

TMT describes CrystaLens as optics that give a wider light-dispersion angle and spread light uniformly, so that module chains can be stretched and fewer modules are needed to light a sign evenly (tmtleds.com Technology). The same page states that all TMT LEDs modules use CrystaLens (tmtleds.com Technology). TMT’s Technology page also connects its CleanWhite colour claim to CrystaLens optics (tmtleds.com Technology; see CleanWhite).

In datasheets, TMT ties CrystaLens to specific beam angles. The Midi 3 datasheet says its CrystaLens optics have a viewing angle of over 160° (Midi 3 datasheet). The Midi 4 datasheet gives a 170° viewing angle and says the optics reduce module count and give illumination “without hotspots” (Midi 4 datasheet). For the Midi Edge, CrystaLens is described with a narrow 20° × 45° beam intended to light a box from its perimeter up to 7 feet across (Midi Edge datasheet).

Products associated with CrystaLens

Product Stated beam / viewing angle Source naming CrystaLens
Midi 3 over 160° Midi 3 datasheet
Midi 4 170° Midi 4 datasheet; usa.tmtleds.com Midi 4
Midi Edge 20° × 45° (other TMT sources: 18° × 40°, 15° × 45°) Midi Edge datasheet
Tiny 170° × 130° tmtleds.com Tiny; usa.tmtleds.com Tiny
Linera 160° / 170° diffused Linera datasheet
Slim – tmtleds.com Slim
Slim+ – tmtleds.com Slim+

The Midi Edge beam angle differs between TMT sources: 20° × 45° in the datasheet text and on the global page, 18° × 40° in a datasheet header bar, and 15° × 45° on the US page (Midi Edge datasheet; tmtleds.com Midi Edge; usa.tmtleds.com Midi Edge).

Products where the name does not appear

Although the Technology page says all modules use CrystaLens, the Mini 2 datasheet and US Mini 2 page do not use the word (Mini 2 datasheet; usa.tmtleds.com Mini 2). The TMT Mini 3 sources reviewed also do not name CrystaLens, while distributor Partners Ltd does for Mini 3 Silver (tmtleds.com Mini 3; Partners Ltd Mini 3 Silver). This site therefore does not tag Mini 2 or Mini 3 with CrystaLens.

Patent status

None of the TMT sources reviewed describes CrystaLens as patent pending or patented; TMT uses “patent pending” for other features such as cable hiding (tmtleds.com Technology). No patent number was found. For wide beam angles in general, see Wide-angle lens.

Sources