A new lens based on a special elecroactive polymer may bring SLR Camera type features not seen before in smartphones to the next iPhone.
Phone cameras have come a long way to the point that they have decimated the market for low cost point and click cameras. A camera basically has three parts. An image sensor, a lens and a system comprised or software and controls. In smart phones image sensors provided by companies such as Sony (SNE) and OmniVision (OVTI) are on par with low to mid-priced standalone cameras. Software for control and processing in high end smart phones is better than many low to mid-price standalone cameras. However, the biggest weaknesses of typical smart phone cameras are the lens and the shutter equivalent.
There is a reason that professionals still use digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. DSLR cameras allow for control of both shutter speed and lens aperture. Compared to fixed lens cameras DSLR allows the photographer a wide aperture range. By changing the aperture, the photographer can change the depth of field of the picture.
The conventional SLR technology cannot be easily adapted to smart phones due to the size of the lens and associated mechanisms. A promising new technology for optics and cameras has been electroactive polymers (EAP). An EAP changes its shape when exposed to an electric field. Starting with a rubber band experiment in 1890, there has been a steady progression of innovation in EAPs. In due course EAPs have also come to be known as ‘artificial muscle’; just like a muscle, EAPs can be made to contract, expand or rotate. Using an EAP for the optics in a smart phone camera is the next frontier. With EAPs the lens and the associated mechanism can be made small enough to fit within the profile of a typical smart phone.
Apple AAPL -0.61% (AAPL) has made significant progress in using EAPs in a smart phone as a camera lens, as is evidenced by its filing with the United States Trademark and Patent Office. Here is the abstract of application number 0140168799 , ‘An artificial muscle structure has an electro-active polymer (EAP) layer having a frusto-conical shape and whose tip has an opening formed therein for use as a camera variable aperture. First, second and third electrode segments are formed on a rear face of the EAP layer. The second segment is positioned in a gap between the first and third segments so as to be electrically isolated from the first and third segments. The second segment has an opening formed therein that is aligned with the opening in the EAP layer. A complementary electrode is formed on a front face of the EAP layer. Other embodiments are also described.’
Note: SLR is simply used here as a generic term that is familiar to many consumer.
