Design and simulation of a high-resolution superposition compound eye

Abstract

The interest in miniaturizing imaging systems has increased recently. This paper discusses aberration calculation and the design of a superposition compound eye, which contains three microlens arrays with aspheric surfaces. The simulation of micro-optical systems, especially those including microlens arrays is still a challenging task. The paper describes simulation and optimization of a superposition compound eye system using geometrical and diffraction-based methods, and some commercial optical design software. Many previously reported superposition compound eyes are in fact apposition compound eyes because each channel images only a part of the field of view (FOV). This paper details the design of a superposition compound eye in which each channel images all the FOV of the system.