Stereo Imaging with a Hemispherical Field-of-View Metalens Camera

Abstract

Stereo imaging is a widely used three-dimensional (3D) detection technique for applications ranging from medical imaging to depth perception in artificial intelligence and robotics. A common prerequisite for the integration of 3D imaging capabilities in advanced technologies is wide-angle vision while keeping a small device form factor. Here, we present an ultrasmall form factor metalens camera for wide-angle stereo imaging, with an experimentally measured hemispherical field-of-view (FOV) and a high resolution across the FOV limited only by the detector’s pixel size. The metalens, operating in the near-infrared (IR) range, is designed to encode a quadratic phase profile in order to capture the full 180° FOV. Moreover, it is fabricated using a mass-manufacturing-ready platform, namely, 12 in., 193 nm ArF deep ultraviolet immersion photolithography, in high volumes. The demonstrated wide FOV metalens camera is promising for a range of applications, including depth sensing for miniature automation devices and night vision for security and surveillance.