PARTS FAQs:~
Q: Lens? Window?
A: The clear material in
front of a flashlight's
light source and optical
system, intended to
protect them, is usually
called a lens. However,
it is more accurate to
call it a "window," as a
lens could also refer to
some sort of optical
system where light goes
through a piece of clear
glass or plastic and is
distorted in some way
(e.g. collimated or
dispersed). Technically,
a window is nothing but
a plano-plano lens (flat
on both sides), but it's
easiest and clearest to
call it a window and
save "lens" for the
above-mentioned optical
system.
