Microlens Arrays: Difference between revisions - VR & AR Wiki - Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Wiki

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[[Microlens ~~arrays~~]] ('''MLAs'''), sometimes called '''micro-lens arrays''' or '''lenslet arrays''', are [[optical component]]s consisting of multiple small [[lens]]es (often called '''lenslets''') arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional pattern on a supporting substrate<ref name="RPPhotonics">Microlens arrays – fabrication, parameters, applications - RP Photonics</ref><ref name="ShanghaiOptics">Microlens Array - Shanghai Optics</ref><ref name="TEMICON">Microlens Arrays, MLA - temicon</ref><ref name="PhotonicsDict">Microlens array - Photonics Dictionary</ref>. Each lenslet typically has a diameter significantly less than 10 millimeters, often ranging from tens or hundreds of micrometers down to just a few micrometers, or even sub-micrometer in specialized cases<ref name="RPPhotonics"/><ref name="ShanghaiOptics"/><ref name="Syntec">Microlens Arrays | Single Point Diamond Turning - Syntec Optics</ref><ref name="StandardMLA">Standard Microlens Array - Bön Optics (appears to be distributor for brand, original mfg unclear)</ref>. The array pattern is commonly periodic, such as a square or hexagonal grid, but can also be linear, rectangular, circular, or even random/stochastic for specific applications<ref name="RPPhotonics"/><ref name="ShanghaiOptics"/><ref name="TEMICON"/><ref name="StandardMLA"/>. An array can contain thousands, millions, or even more individual lenslets<ref name="RPPhotonics"/><ref name="AvantierIntro">Introducing Microlens Arrays - Avantier Inc.</ref><ref name="OpticalComponents">Detailed Insights in Microlens Array Products - OPTICAL COMPONENTS</ref>.

[[Microlens Arrays]] ('''MLAs'''), sometimes called '''micro-lens arrays''' or '''lenslet arrays''', are [[optical component]]s consisting of multiple small [[lens]]es (often called '''lenslets''') arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional pattern on a supporting substrate<ref name="RPPhotonics">Microlens arrays – fabrication, parameters, applications - RP Photonics</ref><ref name="ShanghaiOptics">Microlens Array - Shanghai Optics</ref><ref name="TEMICON">Microlens Arrays, MLA - temicon</ref><ref name="PhotonicsDict">Microlens array - Photonics Dictionary</ref>. Each lenslet typically has a diameter significantly less than 10 millimeters, often ranging from tens or hundreds of micrometers down to just a few micrometers, or even sub-micrometer in specialized cases<ref name="RPPhotonics"/><ref name="ShanghaiOptics"/><ref name="Syntec">Microlens Arrays | Single Point Diamond Turning - Syntec Optics</ref><ref name="StandardMLA">Standard Microlens Array - Bön Optics (appears to be distributor for brand, original mfg unclear)</ref>. The array pattern is commonly periodic, such as a square or hexagonal grid, but can also be linear, rectangular, circular, or even random/stochastic for specific applications<ref name="RPPhotonics"/><ref name="ShanghaiOptics"/><ref name="TEMICON"/><ref name="StandardMLA"/>. An array can contain thousands, millions, or even more individual lenslets<ref name="RPPhotonics"/><ref name="AvantierIntro">Introducing Microlens Arrays - Avantier Inc.</ref><ref name="OpticalComponents">Detailed Insights in Microlens Array Products - OPTICAL COMPONENTS</ref>.

MLAs are characterized by their potential for miniaturization, integration into complex systems, and considerable design flexibility<ref name="StandardMLA"/><ref name="ApolloOptics">Injection-molded microlens arrays - Apollo Optical Systems</ref>. They have become a critical enabling technology in [[virtual reality]] (VR) and [[augmented reality]] (AR) devices, where they help solve numerous optical challenges related to [[field of view]], display brightness, visual quality, and [[form factor]]<ref name="Bote">Microlens Arrays: Versatile and Efficient Optical Solutions - Bote Optics Singapore</ref><ref name="OpticalComponents"/><ref name="BrightView">AR-VR - Augmented and Virtual Reality - BrightView Technologies, Inc.</ref>. Beyond VR/AR, they are employed across diverse fields, including [[telecommunication]]s (fiber coupling, optical switches), [[medical imaging]] (endoscopy, [[Optical Coherence Tomography|OCT]]), [[solar energy]] (concentrators), automotive [[LiDAR]], [[laser]] beam homogenization and shaping, [[sensor]] technology ([[Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor]]s, image sensors), and [[consumer electronics]] (projectors, cameras, displays)<ref name="OpticalComponents"/><ref name="ShanghaiOptics"/><ref name="AvantierIntro"/><ref name="StandardMLA"/><ref name="Bote"/><ref name="GDOptics">Efficient and precise production of microlens arrays using precision glass molding - GD Optics (PDF)</ref>. Microlens arrays play an increasingly important role in next-generation display systems, [[waveguide]] technologies, [[eye tracking]] systems, [[light field display]] technologies, environmental [[sensing]], and [[computational imaging]] applications within the immersive technology sector<ref name="PatentlyApple">Apple Invents an optical system with Microlens Array Projectors to advance time-of-flight sensing for Face ID, delivering more realistic AR/VR features+ - Patently Apple (July 21, 2022)</ref><ref name="BrightView"/><ref name="UltraThinMLA">(2024-03-19) Imaging with high resolution and wide field of view based on an ultrathin microlens array - AIP Publishing</ref><ref name="AvantierMicroOptics">Types of Micro Optics - Avantier Inc.</ref>.