Venture company from Harvard University “MetalenzUsing nanotechnology, we have developed a lens that contributes to the miniaturization of camera modules while having optical performance that surpasses that of conventional smartphone lenses.
A new lens technology is primed to jumpstart phone cameras | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/a-new-lens-technology-is-primed-to-jumpstart-phone-cameras/
For the first iPhone that appeared in 2007Camera that can take 2MP photosWas installed. After that, the camera performance of smartphones improved, and Samsung announced in January 2021 “Galaxy S21 UltraIs equipped with a camera that can take high-definition pictures of 108MP. In addition to the hardware, the performance of software such as HDR processing in situations where there is a large difference in brightness and noise reduction processing in dark places has also been greatly improved.
Professional photographer uses the camera of “iPhone 12 Pro” to review, experience both advanced software and hardware –GIGAZINE
However, while the performance of the image sensor and software of the camera for smartphones has improved as described above, there has been no technological innovation regarding the performance of the lens.Carl zeiss“Smartphone optics have been refined by adding more lenses and adopting aspheric lenses,” said Oliver Cinderbeck, Innovation Manager at. But the last decade hasn’t revolutionized. The optical system of the lenses installed in smartphones in recent years consists of 4 to 7 lenses. The more elements you want to pack in the camera, the more space you need. ” Points out that it is affecting the bloat of the camera module.
Harvard University’s technology to control light refraction and aberrations using tiny structuresOptical metasurfaceFounded in 2017 by Robert Devlin, who was studying “Metalenz,” Metalenz consisted of a single lens constructed in the form of a glass wafer of 1 mm x 1 mm to 3 mm x 3 mm, and multiple conventional lenses. We have succeeded in providing optical performance that exceeds that of the system.
The lens developed by Metalenz is said to be equipped with millions of circular nanostructures of several nanometers. “General curved lenses refract light by accelerating and decelerating it. The lenses developed by Metalenz have individual nanostructures that refract light in the same way as conventional lenses,” said Devlin. It also has a function. By combining nanostructures of various diameters, it is possible to correct light aberration and image distortion in the same way as combining multiple curved lenses. ” I will.
The lens developed by Metalenz is said to be able to take pictures with the same image quality as a camera system using a conventional lens with one lens. As a result, Devlin claims that the size of the camera module can be reduced.In addition, Devlin said, “Metalenz lenses deliver more light to the image sensor than traditional lenses, so you can take bright pictures, and Apple’s face recognition technology.Face IDThe 3D sensor used in such applications consumes a lot of power when irradiating the laser to scan the target, but by using the Metalenz lens, the laser output can be suppressed, saving power. It also helps, “he claims the benefits of using Metalenz as a camera for smartphones.
Metalenz has already signed contracts with two semiconductor manufacturers, and plans to start production of camera modules equipped with the lenses developed by Metalenz by the end of 2021.
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