Artificial compound eye camera for wide field of view and high-resolution imaging

Insect compound eyes have been garnered a great attention in the fields of optical design, owing to their remarkably economical, but sophisticated visual structures and process. However, a rigid and planar imaging sensor hardly supporting curved micro-optics hinders full implementation of insect vision system. Here, we present a bioinspired artificial compound eye camera for wide field of view and high-resolution imaging based on the hemispherical microlens array and tapered imaging fiber bundles. The hemispherical microlens array focuses a wide field of view image on the curved facet of tapered fiber bundle, which relays the image to another facet contacted on commercial image sensor providing high resolution. The integrated compound eye module suggests a facile way to fill the technical gap for practical applications of artificial insect vision systems.