Micro-optically fabricated artificial apposition compound eye
2004
An artificial apposition compound eye manufactured by
micro-optics technology is demonstrated. The overall thickness of
the imaging system is only 320 μm, the field of view is
21° on diagonal, the F/# is 2.6. The monolithic device
consists of a microlens array on a thin silica-substrate with a
pinhole array in a metal layer on the backside. The image
formation can be explained by the moire-effect or static
sampling. The master structures for the microlens arrays are
manufactured by lithographic patterning of photo-resist and a
subsequent reflow process. These master structures are replicated
by moulding into UV-curing polymer. The pitch of the pinholes
differs from the lens array pitch to enable an individual viewing
angle for each channel. The required precision is guaranteed by
using a lithographic process also for the assembly. Thus, problems
with accuracy of other attempts to develop similar systems using
discrete components have been overcome. Imaging systems with
different sizes of pinholes, numbers of channels and separation of
the viewing direction of the channels are realized and tested. A
method to generate nontransparent walls between the optical
channels for prevention of crosstalk is proposed. Theoretical
limitations of resolution and sensitivity are discussed. Imaged
test patterns are presented and measurements of the angular
sensitivity function are compared to calculations using commercial
raytracing software. The resolution achievable with the fabricated
artificial compound eye is analyzed.
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