Lobster-eye infrared focusing optics

Abstract

We propose a new imaging device for the long infrared spectral range, inspired by the natural eye of a lobster. Such a lobster-eye lens is composed of reflecting channels with a square cross section capable of wide angle of view and practically omni-directional imaging. As in large-aperture lenses, aberrations can significantly degrade the image.We show two methods of reducing aberrations: by selecting proper material for the mirrors and by making channels with absorbing sections.

Nature-inspired optics enable omnidirectional and omnispectral imaging

“…However, if a simple metallic mirror is used, aberrations may cause problems for obtaining high-quality images with widefield-of-view lenses, as Figure 3 demonstrates. 4 This can be overcome by restricting the effective aperture of the lens to eliminate the problem rays, so that only a relatively small fraction of the lens is involved in focusing a beam incident in any particular direction. In this case, the operation of a lens in the visible or IR spectrum becomes very similar to that for x-rays, with the light effectively exhibiting a critical angle for reflection from the mirror surfaces.…”

MULTICAM: a miniature cryogenic camera for infrared detection

“…Finally an imaging device for the long infrared spectral range inspired by the natural eye of lobster was proposed. 18 The eye of the lobster is a superposition compound eye with the particularity of being composed of reflecting channels. This system has a large FOV with an omni-directional imaging, since there is no preferred optical axis, and an enhancement of the sensitivity, since several channels contribute to the formation of the same point.…”

Demonstration of an infrared microcamera inspired by Xenos peckii vision

“…Moreover, superposition eyes produce erect images on the retina. These two types of architecture lead to breakthroughs in optical design [6,9,10,16,17].…”