Biologically inspired miniature compound eye camera for high-contrast and wide-FOV imaging of dynamic targets

Abstract

Miniature cameras, with compact size and light weight, hold significant promise in micro-visual applications. However, spatial constraints of traditional microlenses limit wide field-of-view (FOV) imaging with minimal aberrations. Inspired by insect compound eyes (CEs), we present an optoelectronic-integrated micro-CE camera that replaces conventional composite lens with a micro-curved CE, achieving high-contrast, wide-FOV, and low-aberration imaging. Notably, the defocusing issue in integrating curved CEs with planar-detectors is resolved through non-uniform sub-eye focal lengths, enhancing imaging clarity and contrast. As a proof of concept, a 19-eye curved CE, sized in hundreds of microns, was fabricated using femtosecond laser 3D printing, exhibiting excellent surface morphology matching the intended design and an average imaging contrast above 0.95 for both bright-field and dark-field masks. Moreover, the CE lens can be directly integrated onto a commercial CMOS chip without additional alignment or assembly. Our micro-CE camera, weighing less than 250 mg, demonstrated dynamic target detection within a 90° FOV, highlighting strong potential for medical endoscopy and micro-robot vision.