Tiny camera breakthrough targets thinner phones and wearables

KAIST researchers developed an ultra-thin camera module.

The module measures 0.94 mm thick and provides a 140° field of view.

It uses a microlens array of many tiny lenses, each capturing different parts of the scene.

Multiple captures are combined into a single high-resolution image; the design is inspired by a parasitic insect’s vision and the article also mentions Apple.

The technology was transferred to an optical imaging company for commercialization; plans point to market readiness as early as next year, with early adoption likely in specialized hardware and immediate candidates including medical devices and micro-robots.