Philips Develops Revolutionary Camera Lens

[Kent Pribbernow]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5170405.html?tag=nefd_top' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5170405.html?tag=nefd_top</a><br /><br /></div>"Philips Electronics has invented a tiny digital-camera lens that can focus on objects and create sharp pictures in ways similar to the human eye. Unlike high-end digital cameras, the new lens does not require mechanical moving parts because it works by manipulating two fluids in a tiny transparent tube."<br /><br />This sounds like an amazing piece of technology. There are no mechanical parts, and the lens itself is nothing more than fluid! Since the lens is liquid based, it can be shaped to any curvature, meaning wide angle photos are now possible in devices as small as a PDA or Mobile Phone. Philips will be showing off this device at CeBit later this month. If it really turns out to be as good as it sounds, this will nothing short of revolutionary, especially for small devices. 8O

[Philip Colmer]

Some additional information can be found here: http://www.philips.com/InformationCenter/Global/FNewPressRelease.asp?lArticleId=3066&lNodeId=13

--Philip

[Suhit Gupta]

Very interesting. I wonder whether it will every come into production for consumers though. I mean, think of the pressures involved when taking off on a flight with this lens in a tightly packed suitcase. I wonder whether it would survive :?:

Suhit

[Philip Colmer]

My impression from the linked articles is that these lenses are not going to be traditional swappable camera lenses but, rather, fixed in place lenses. In particular, one of the articles says that they are for small devices like mobile phones.

I didn't get the impression, unfortunately(?), that Philips have got plans for this technology for larger devices like camcorders or SLRs.

--Philip

[Suhit Gupta]

My impression from the linked articles is that these lenses are not going to be traditional swappable camera lenses but, rather, fixed in place lenses. In particular, one of the articles says that they are for small devices like mobile phones.
I guess my question still applies though. In fact, if it is only in devices like cell phones, then there is the added durability needed for when people drop their cell phones. I mean, I have seen cell phones survive some crazy falls.

I didn't get the impression, unfortunately(?), that Philips have got plans for this technology for larger devices like camcorders or SLRs.
That would be interesting to have though, wouldn't it?

Suhit

[Philip Colmer]

Looks like there might be some legal controversy on its way:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/36263.html

--Philip