Multi-functional imaging inspired by insect stereopsis

Abstract Insects exhibit intriguing vision capability using fragmented information from arrays of lenses. Visual disparity between lenses or eyelets (also known as stereopsis) helps insects to locate their prey or find landing spots. Here we report a multi-functional imaging system inspired by insect stereopsis using a single ultrathin microlens array camera. Individual channels through tens of microlenses capture distinct images with visual disparities. We demonstrate that reconstruction of these images can provide diverse capabilities, such as simultaneous near-distance microscopic imaging, high speed imaging at far distances and 3D depth imaging at intermediate distances. Our findings offer clues to further understand the vision capability of insects as well as insights for advanced compact functional imaging tools.