Edge detection with meta-lens: from one dimension to three dimensions

TLDR

Meta‑lens technology has been developed for diverse optical functions and enables capturing complete light‑field information, allowing two‑dimensional edge imaging to be extended into three dimensions with depth data. The study demonstrates a light‑field edge‑detection imaging system using a gallium nitride achromatic meta‑lens array. The system uses a 60×60 gallium nitride achromatic meta‑lens array operating from 400–660 nm, extracting depth‑enhanced edge images via image rendering and sub‑image reconstruction of the light‑field data. The system achieves broadband, data‑efficient, miniaturized edge detection from one to three dimensions, demonstrating potential applications in biological diagnosis and robotic vision.

Abstract

Abstract Meta-lens has successfully been developed for a variety of optical functions. We demonstrate a light-field edge detection imaging system with a gallium nitride achromatic meta-lens array. It enables edge detection from one dimension to three dimensions. The designed meta-lens array consists of 60 by 60 achromatic meta-lenses, which operate in the visible range from 400 to 660 nm. All of the light field information of objects in the scene can be captured and computed. The focused edge images from one dimension to three dimensions are extracted with depth estimation by image rendering. Three dimensions edge detection is two dimensions edge imaging with depth information. The focused edge images can be obtained by the sub-image reconstruction of the light field image. Our multidimensional edge detection system by achromatic meta-lens array brings novel advantages, such as broadband detection, data volume reduction, and device miniaturization capacity. Results of our experiments show new insight into applications of biological diagnose and robotic vision.