Peter Dannberg

Micro-optical artificial compound eyes.

Natural compound eyes combine small eye volumes with a large field of view at the cost of comparatively low spatial resolution. For small invertebrates such as flies or moths, compound eyes are the perfectly adapted solution to obtaining sufficient visual information about their environment without overloading their brains with the necessary image processing. However, to date little effort has been made to adopt this principle in optics. Classical imaging always had its archetype in natural single aperture eyes which, for example, human vision is based on. But a high-resolution image is not always required. Often the focus is on very compact, robust and cheap vision systems. The main question is consequently: what is the better approach for extremely miniaturized imaging systems—just scaling of classical lens designs or being inspired by alternative imaging principles evolved by nature in the case of small insects? In this paper, it is shown that such optical systems can be achieved using state-of-the-art micro-optics technology. This enables the generation of highly precise and uniform microlens arrays and their accurate alignment to the subsequent optics-, spacing- and optoelectronics structures. The results are thin, simple and monolithic imaging devices with a high accuracy of photolithography. Two different artificial compound eye concepts for compact vision systems have been investigated in detail: the artificial apposition compound eye and the cluster eye. Novel optical design methods and characterization tools were developed to allow the layout and experimental testing of the planar micro-optical imaging systems, which were fabricated for the first time by micro-optics technology. The artificial apposition compound eye can be considered as a simple imaging optical sensor while the cluster eye is capable of becoming a valid alternative to classical bulk objectives but is much more complex than the first system.

Thin compound-eye camera

An artificial compound-eye objective fabricated by micro-optics technology is adapted and attached to a CMOS sensor array. The novel optical sensor system with an optics thickness of only 0.2 mm is examined with respect to resolution and sensitivity. An optical resolution of 60 x 60 pixels is determined from captured images. The scaling behavior of artificial compound-eye imaging systems is analyzed. Cross talk between channels fabricated by different technologies is evaluated, and the influence on an extension of the field of view by addition of a (Fresnel) diverging lens is discussed. The lithographic generation of opaque walls between channels for optical isolation is experimentally demonstrated.

Thin wafer-level camera lenses inspired by insect compound eyes

We propose a microoptical approach to ultra-compact optics for real-time vision systems that are inspired by the compound eyes of insects. The demonstrated module achieves approx. VGA resolution with a total track length of 1.4 mm which is about two times shorter than comparable single-aperture optics on images sensors of the same pixel pitch. The partial images that are separately recorded in different optical channels are stitched together to form a final image of the whole field of view by means of image processing. A software correction is applied to each partial image so that the final image is made free of distortion. The microlens arrays are realized by state of the art microoptical fabrication techniques on wafer-level which are suitable for a potential application in high volume e.g. for consumer electronic products.

Artificial apposition compound eye fabricated by micro-optics technology

By exploring micro-optical design principles and technology, we have developed an artificial apposition compound eye. The overall thickness of the imaging system is only 320 microm, the diagonal field of view is 21 degrees, and the f-number is 2.6. The monolithic device consists of an UV-replicated microlens array upon a thin silica substrate with a pinhole array in a metal layer on the back side. The pitch of the pinholes differs from that of the lens array to provide individual viewing angle for each channel. Theoretical limitations of resolution and sensitivity are discussed as well as fabrication issues and compared with experimental results. A method to generate nontransparent walls between optical channels to prevent cross talk is proposed.

Chirped arrays of refractive ellipsoidal microlenses for aberration correction under oblique incidence

Improvements of the resolution homogeneity of an ultra-thin artificial apposition compound eye objective are accomplished by the use of a chirped array of ellipsoidal micro-lenses. The array contains 130x130 individually shaped ellipsoidal lenses for channel-wise correction of astigmastism and field curvature occurring under oblique incidence. We present an analytical approach for designing anamorphic micro-lenses for such purpose based on Gullstrands equations and experimentally validate the improvement. Considerations for the design of the photolithographical masks for the micro-lens array fabrication by melting of photoresist cylinders with ellipsoidal basis are presented. Measurements of the optically performance are proceed on first realized artificial compound eye prototypes showing a significant improvement of angular resolution homogeneity over the complete field of view of 64.3?.

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials for application in optical devices

Abstract Integrated passive and active optical devices are the key components in current and future data transfer technologies. In order to fulfill future requirements in miniaturization for diffractive, refractive and integrated optical devices, new materials with higher thermal stability and a better compatibility to processing techniques used in conventional semiconductor devices production are needed. Inorganic–organic hybrid polymers (ORMOCER®s) produced at fairly low costs with a high degree of reproducibility are now proven candidates. The materials can be functionalized such that their physical and chemical properties can be tailored towards, e.g. optical applications on wafer-scale such as waveguides, gratings or microoptical devices. The materials behave as a negative resist and can thus be patterned by UV exposure with good resolution. Besides, the materials are very well suited for thin and thick film packaging technology. We here particularly focus on materials for optical (telecom/microoptics) applications. The optical behavior is characterized and discussed with respect to the chemical functionalities. Additionally, some application examples of selected optical components are given, produced either by UV lithography or by replication technology.

Artifical compound eyes - Different concepts and their application to ultra flat image acquisition sensors

Two different approaches for ultra flat image acquisition sensors on the basis of artificial compound eyes are examined. In apposition optics the image reconstruction is based on moire or static sampling while the superposition eye approach produces an overall image. Both types of sensors are compared with respect to theoretical limitations of resolution, sensitivity and system thickness. Explicit design rules are given. A paraxial 3x3 matrix formalism is used to describe the arrangement of three microlens arrays with different pitches to find first order parameters of artificial superposition eyes. The model is validated by analysis of the system with raytracing software. Measurements of focal length of anamorphic reflow lenses, which are key components of the superposition approach, under oblique incidence are performed. For the second approach, the artificial apposition eye, a first demonstrator system is presented. The monolithic device consists of a UV-replicated reflow microlens array on a thin silica-substrate with a pinhole array in a metal layer on the backside. The pitch of the pinholes differs from the lens array pitch to enable an individual viewing angle for each channel. Imaged test patterns are presented and measurements of the angular sensitivity function are compared to calculations using commercial raytracing software.

Artificial compound eye zoom camera

We demonstrate a highly compact image capturing system with variable field of view but without any mechanically moving parts. The camera combines an ultra-thin artificial apposition compound eye with one variable focal length liquid lens. The change of optical power of the liquid lens when applying a voltage results in a change of the magnification of the microlens array imaging system. However, its effect on focusing of the individual microlenses can be neglected due to their small focal length.

Design and fabrication of a chirped array of refractive ellipsoidal micro-lenses for an apposition eye camera objective

Apposition compound eye camera objectives are one approach for a vast reduction of the optical system length of an imaging optical sensor. Despite imaging the complete field of view through one aperture like in classical lenses, these objectives split the overall field of view in separated channels which are located adjoined like in insect eyes. Due to the splitting each channel can be optimized for reduction of aberrations occuring under oblique incidence. A correction for astigmatism, field curvature and distortion occurring under oblique incidence can be accomplished by the use of anamorphic micro-lenses leading to an improved resolution of the camera objective. In contrast to regular arrays of equally shaped and equidistant positioned micro-lenses the parameters of the lenses like radii of curvature, center position and angular orientation are functions of the position within the array. These functions can be derived analytically leading to a complete description of the array parameters. We present design considerations for a chirped array containing 130x130 individually shaped ellipsoidal micro-lenses. Melting of photo-resist is employed as fabrication technology for achieving diffraction limited performance. Detailed considerations for the semi-automated layout generation of the photo lithographical masks as well as characterization data of first realized prototypes of the array are given.

Driving micro-optical imaging systems towards miniature camera applications

Up to now, multi channel imaging systems have been increasingly studied and approached from various directions in the academic domain due to their promising large field of view at small system thickness. However, specific drawbacks of each of the solutions prevented the diffusion into corresponding markets so far. Most severe problems are a low image resolution and a low sensitivity compared to a conventional single aperture lens besides the lack of a cost-efficient method of fabrication and assembly. We propose a microoptical approach to ultra-compact optics for real-time vision systems that are inspired by the compound eyes of insects. The demonstrated modules achieve a VGA resolution with 700x550 pixels within an optical package of 6.8mm x 5.2mm and a total track length of 1.4mm. The partial images that are separately recorded within different optical channels are stitched together to form a final image of the whole field of view by means of image processing. These software tools allow to correct the distortion of the individual partial images so that the final image is also free of distortion. The so-called electronic cluster eyes are realized by state-of-the-art microoptical fabrication techniques and offer a resolution and sensitivity potential that makes them suitable for consumer, machine vision and medical imaging applications.