An Artificial Compound Eye Using a Microlens Array and Its Application to Scale-Invariant Processing

An artificial compound eye corresponding to apposition eyes of insects has been demonstrated using a two-dimensional array of gradient-index rod lenses known as a Selfoc lens plate (a SLP). A single erect Moiré image is reconstructed from a number of inverted micro-images by an experimental optical system composed of the SLP, a pinhole array and a plano-concave lens. Characteristics of the compound eye is briefly discussed from the viewpoints of space-bandwidth product, viewing angle, and focal depth. Capability of a scale-invariant image sensor that has been proposed as an application of the compound-eye-type imager was also proved experimentally.