Company Information

Distant Focus Corporation is an R&D engineering firm that has specialized in optical and sensing technologies for more than a decade. We design and produce prototype cameras and advanced imaging platforms, as well as multi-sensor electronic circuit boards, microscopes, interferometric systems, fiber-optic solutions, and other advanced technologies.

Distant Focus accepts prototype and small-to-medium scale production work which allows us to manage all aspects of a project. We routinely partner with academic researchers, national laboratories, and military contractors to develop cutting edge solutions.

Distant Focus prides itself in producing the best solution for our customers. Our goal is quite simple - "To transform your concept into an operational system."

Distant Focus is located in Tucson, Arizona.

History

Distant Focus was conceived in 1997 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign becoming operational in 2001 to commercialize various research projects. We have partnered on several projects sponsored by DARPA investigating imaging solutions. The most significant programs include MONTAGE, MOSAIC/AWARE, and SCENICC. We maintain close ties to both our academic and industrial partners providing us with a variety of resources with which to develop optimal solutions for our customers.

In 2019 Distant Focus moved from Champaign, Illinois to Tucson, Arizona to become a part of the thriving optics community in southern Arizona.

Facilities and Equipment

DFC has over 8,000 ft² of engineering, prototyping, and fabrication space. We provide optical, mechanical, electronic, and software design support in addition to building prototypes and fabricating custom optical elements in house. We have several large optical tables for breadboard setups and experimentation to support our optical work. We can rapidly produce initial mechanical prototypes in house using several 3D printing platforms and a Makino 3-axis CNC mill.