Recent Development of Lens Array Fabrication: A Review

Abstract

The lens array is a multi-functional optical element, which can modulate the incident light such as diffusion, beam shaping, light splitting, and optical focusing, thereby achieving large viewing angle, low aberration, small distortion, high temporal resolution, and infinite depth of field. Meanwhile, it has important application potential in the form, intelligence and integration of op-to electronic devices and optical systems. In this paper, the optical principle and development history of lens arrays are introduced, and the lens array fabrication technologies such as ink jet printing, laser direct writing, screen printing, photo lithography, photo polymerization, hot melt reflow and chemical vapor deposition are reviewed. The application progress of lens arrays in imaging sensing, illumination light source, display and photovoltaic fields is presented. And this paper prospected the development direction of lens arrays, and discussed the development trends and future challenges of new directions such as curved lenses, superimposed compound eye systems, and the combination of lenses and new op-to electronic materials.