Recent advances in imaging systems and photonic nanostructures inspired by insect eye geometry

Abstract

Studying sensory light in nature provides opportunities for the development of new types of imaging systems and optical components that cannot be achieved with existing technologies. Insect eyes, i.e., compound eyes, are particularly notable for their exceptional optical characteristics, such as wide fields of view, nearly infinite depth-of-field, and high sensitivity to motion. The construction of manmade compound eye imagers with these characteristics is of significant interest due to their strong potential for various applications, including surveillance, security, and bio-medical devices. Furthermore, night-active insects have nanophotonic structures that provide exceptional optical behaviors (e.g., broadband antireflection of light), which are beneficial for applications in high-efficiency optoelectronic devices. In this review, recent progress is reviewed for optical devices and optical imaging systems with designs inspired by the geometry of insect eyes. The design guidelines and fabrication issues are also discussed.