A rapid precision fabrication method for artificial compound eyes

Abstract

A bionic artificial compound eye manufactured on a concave mold with precision engraving method for imaging, which allows for the rapid fabrication of large-scale compound eyes at a low cost. Thousands of concave structures are accurately machined and positioned omnidirectionally in concentric rings with a minimum diameter of 100 μm on a hemisphere. The PDMS ommatidia can be obtained once replicated, which can greatly improve preparation efficiency, and the peel-off process can also be optimized by alcohol ultrasonic without edge damage. The optical performance and field of view of the artificial compound eye are also investigated, and the experimental results are around 120°. Furthermore, the combination of the prepared compound eye and the commercial CMOS camera successfully captures images of different shapes.

Keywords

• compound eyes
• precision engraving
• imaging system
• microlens array