optronic

Optronics, or optronic devices, is the field that studies and develops systems that combine optical and electronic functions. An optronic device either converts electrical signals into light or converts light into electrical signals, and may include components that actively control light. The term is often used interchangeably with optoelectronic, though optronic can carry a broader, sometimes marketing-oriented sense.

Common optronic devices include light sources such as light-emitting diodes and laser diodes; detectors such as photodiodes and photodetectors; imaging sensors and cameras; optical modulators and electro-optic switches; and fiber-optic transmitters and receivers. Integrated optoelectronic circuits and sensing modules are also described as optronic systems.

Applications span telecommunications and data communications, medical imaging and diagnostics, environmental and industrial sensing, automotive and consumer electronics, and defense and aerospace. Optronics underpins fiber optics, LiDAR, spectroscopy, and many display and imaging technologies.

History and terminology: The field grew from early work on photodetection, light sources, and integrated circuits capable of interacting with light. The term optoelectronics is widely used in academia and industry standards, while optronic appears in some contexts as a broader or more market-oriented label. Regardless of terminology, the core idea is the integration of optical and electronic functions within common devices and systems.

Related terms include optronics, optoelectronics, and photonics.