Lens array
A microlens array is an optical device that has lots of tiny lenses. It can be used to make a light field display.
It is a flat piece of glass with tiny lenslets manufactured into the surface.
A microlens array can potentially be made out of a holographic optical element.
They can be made out of fused silica.[1]
A microlens array is used in Lytro's cameras.[2]
Each lens in the array has its own optical axis. However, when the array is viewed as a cohesive unit, the lenses form a shared main optical axis.[3]
Thorlabs advertises the sale of microlens arrays as of 2024.[4] Thorlabs has claimed that their lenslet arrays are formed using photolithographic techniques.[4]
The side with the roundings should generally face towards the source of the light. In a display, this means that the user's eye faces the flat side of the array, and the underlying display faces the side with the roundings.
Microlens arrays can be found in infra-red motion detectors.[5]
Manufacturing
Microlens arrays can be produced using microfabrication techniques, in particular photolithographic techniques.[6]
Microlens arrays have been manufactured at the wafer level by Lytro.[7]
Dimensions
Microlens arrays have been produced with a distance between microlenses of about 125 microns, which is 1/8 of a millimeter.[8][4]
To make a plenoptic microlens based display, each microlens should be at the minimum 200 pixels wide and 200 pixels long.
References
- ↑ "Fused Silica Microlens Arrays". 2014-08-11. https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=2861.
- ↑ "Lytro Specifications: A Deeper Look Inside". 2012-11-08. http://lightfield-forum.com/2012/11/lytro-specifications-a-deeper-look-inside/.
- ↑ "Microstructure Lens Arrays". 2024-06-21. https://www.laserfocusworld.com/directory/finished-optics-coatings-components/lens-arrays/product/14303094/avantier-inc-microstructure-lens-arrays.
- ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Fused Silica Microlens Arrays". 2014-08-11. https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=2861.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/embed/HroJyGDoXI8?t=23
- ↑ https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/ae/55/08/039fdcbd181cb7/US20130033636A1.pdf
- ↑ "Karafin Lytro". 2024-03-06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nYXVT0QUkc.
- ↑ "Plenoptic Cameras: The Future of Imaging". 2024-03-06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyRgcD4VxE8.