3GSM World Congress at a glanceVarioptic liquid lens
According to the company's press release, its Artic 320 liquid lens "changes shape automatically without mechanical aid" and is, in fact, modeled very much after the human eye. It uses electricity to change the focus of the lens by altering the border between two drops of liquid. In terms of size, cost, speed, durability and quality, Varioptic's patented "electrowetting" technology provides several advantages over traditional lenses. Currently, the liquid lens is targeted at high-volume markets and costs approximately 1 euro (industry price). Varioptic has also been working with Samsung Electro-Mechanics to provide autofocus lenses for camera-phones. If everything works well, we could be seeing the first camera-mobile sporting Varioptic's liquid lens by end 2006. At press time, Varioptic's liquid lenses were compatible only with products and devices sporting small apertures. Liquid lenses may possibly be used in Web cams; for built-in cameras on notebooks and PCs; indoor video surveillance and biometrics; and, of course, in digital still cameras and accompanying devices. Our take: We'll wait and see if this new liquid lens delivers on image quality and performance. | |||||||||||||
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