Self-Aligned Waveguide Array Integrated with Flat Microlenses for Environment-Adaptive and High-Resolution Compound Eye Vision

Abstract

While recent advances in artificial compound-eye vision systems have demonstrated environmental adaptability, the precise control and optimization of the light collection with achieving high-resolution (HR) through self-aligned waveguides (WGs) remain a critical challenge. High-density integration of flat microlens (fML) array using optimized self-aligned light waves is promising, but practical implementation requires a detailed understanding of fabrication parameters and optical mechanisms. Here, an artificial compound eye system is presented that combines a fML array with a self-aligned WG to achieve stable, HR imaging across the air and underwater environments. Unlike conventional curved microlenses, the fML design maintains consistent optical properties across environments, while self-aligned WGs ensure efficient light collection through precisely positioned channels beneath each microlens. The optical simulations and experimental verification demonstrate stable optical properties over a wide range of refractive indices and optimized light guidance through the optical WG. This novel integration scheme presented in this work, which enables high density while maintaining environmental adaptability for efficient light collection, opens new possibilities for compact vision systems in various applications ranging from underwater imaging to biomedical sensing.