Hemispherical light capture with a plane-faced, polymer film: the Omnidirectional Waveguide Encoded Lattice (OWEL)

The first of its kind, a polymer film (≈ 2 mm) embedded with a population of waveguides arranged in a frustrum geometry has demonstrated an omnidirectional field of view (FOV) of 104° to 108°. Avoiding the use of complex multi-component and multi-step fabrication processes, the omnidirectional waveguide encoded lattice (OWEL) is fabricated through a single-step, room temperature process by which diverging waveguides are self-inscribed in a photopolymerizable medium, using a broadband incoherent light source. Due to the overlapping angular acceptance ranges of the embedded waveguides, the near hemispherical FOV demonstrated by the OWEL film is seamless and continuous. As a result of this enhanced omnidirectional FOV, when integrated with a CMOS camera chip the OWEL can capture 3-dimensional objects resulting in an increase of image capture. The OWEL film is highly customizable, resulting in the potential for a variety of uniquely tailored planar films. Its omnidirectional FOV, enhanced image capture and slim size lend it for applications as coatings on solar cells to enhance their light collection, and integration with smartphones cameras to expand their imaging capabilities.