German scientists use 3D printing to develop Hawkeye-like sensors

China Instrument Network Instrument Development Recently, Professor Harald Giessen and his team at the University of Stuttgart in Germany presented their breakthrough achievements in the field of technical optics in the "Science Advances" magazine.

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart used Nanoscribe's Photonic Professional GT system to print different focal length microscope objectives onto high-resolution CMOS chips. All images created by the on-chip lens will be simultaneously read out by electrical signals and processed at the center into images with significantly improved resolution.

Prior to this, it was necessary to use a large number of cameras and sensors in order to generate this so-called "foveal imaging". In the automotive industry, this imaging system must be installed around the vehicle. With the advent of this new method, researchers have been able to use sensors to produce cameras that can reflect an ultra-wide field of vision that looks like an eagle. In addition to the automotive industry, researchers are also looking at smartphones, or their applications in the medical field.

What is the experience of having a Hawkeye? Probably it is a quick distinction between surgeons and spies who are similar in appearance. Thanks to a new camera, people get the same way of working as Hawkeye, although it is not as big as salt. Using spyware as a reference, scientists began to study microlenses a few years ago, and the new version improves the field of view and focusing ability of the lens.

According to the report “Looking at Science,” the latest version created by the researchers uses a 3D printer for injection molding, and its performance is no different from that of Hawkeye. The camera uses four lenses, each lens is set to a different focal length, and is mounted on an image reading microchip that compiles four shots of data into a single image. These microlenses work by imitating the principle known as the foveal vision, allowing many capturers to see a wide field of vision at low resolution while focusing on a single object with high resolution. The ability of human beings to obtain such power is due to our fovea, a small pit on the back of our eyes, filled with pyramidal cells that can sense color, which is the only place where light shines directly on the cone. The eagle has a lot of cones, so its fovea is very deep, which is why people use the "Eagle Eye" to describe a full range of vision.

However, this chip still has some limitations: its resolution is too low, and for certain special types of surgery, the chip is still too heavy. It takes some time for each individual lens to be printed in 3D. However, once these restrictions are resolved, these miniature lenses will likely enter our blood vessels or be used as ultra-small unmanned surveillance aircraft to monitor criminals.

(Original title: 3D printing creates a sensor like "Eagle Eye")