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May 23 2005
Quebec Scientist Invents Lens for Improved Cellphone Cameras
Canadian Press
05/23/05 11:54 AM PT
Tigran Galstian, an engineer and physicist at Laval University who
has patented the new lens, says his invention could drastically
improve the blurry photos taken by small cameras. Galstian said the
lens would work in cellphone cameras that take notoriously poor
quality images.
Can your network transform your business? See how AT&T can help.
Quebec researchers have created a new lens they say could
revolutionize photography by allowing the smallest cameras to take
crystal-clear zoom photos.
The new lens, five times thinner than a sheet of paper, can zoom and
focus with no moving parts, potentially eliminating the distortion
caused by digital zoom and the bulky glass of conventional optical
lens.
Drastic Improvement
Tigran Galstian, an engineer and physicist at Laval University who
has patented the new lens, says his invention could drastically
improve the blurry photos taken by small cameras.
Galstian said the lens would work in cellphone cameras that take
notoriously poor quality images.
"We have found an elegant and simple solution," said Galstian, who is
now looking for an industrial partner to help build a prototype and
overcome remaining technical hurdles.
"Right now we're guessing what industry needs and we'd love to work
with them on what they really want."
Fred Greenslade, a sports and wildlife photographer in Portage la
Prairie, Man., is intrigued by the invention.
Photographer's Dream
Like most professional photographers, Greenslade carries several
heavy lens on most assignments and must switch constantly for
different conditions.
"It sounds like something a photographer would dream up," said
Greenslade.
"I'll believe it when I see it but it sounds great. I guess I'd have
a few questions. Is it going to work? How fast will it be? What's the
quality going to be?
"But it sounds, in theory, like the best thing to have."
Galstian's lens adds a light-sensitive compound to a thin sheet of
liquid crystals, eliminating the need for the finely ground glass of
conventional photographic equipment.
When the sheet is zapped with a laser beam, the center becomes denser
than the edges of the lens.
Small jolts of electricity change the material in the lens to bend
light and adjust focus and zoom.
Conventional photographic lens move two pieces of curved glass to
zoom or focus, requiring bulky lens for top quality close-ups.
Adaptable Technology
Many small digital cameras zoom with computer processors, losing a
lot of picture quality in the process.
Galstian and associate Vladimir Presnyakov published their research
in the current edition of the Journal of Applied Physics.
The lens could eventually be adapted for super-lightweight eyeglasses
that could be adjusted for focal length, eliminating the need for
bi-focals, Galstian said.
"In the short-term, we are focusing on cellphones but in the long
term we think there could be many uses," Galstian said.
Galstian said researchers in France are working on a "competing
technology" that uses electricity and a liquid droplet.
May 23 2005
Quebec Scientist Invents Lens for Improved Cellphone Cameras
Canadian Press
05/23/05 11:54 AM PT
Tigran Galstian, an engineer and physicist at Laval University who
has patented the new lens, says his invention could drastically
improve the blurry photos taken by small cameras. Galstian said the
lens would work in cellphone cameras that take notoriously poor
quality images.
Can your network transform your business? See how AT&T can help.
Quebec researchers have created a new lens they say could
revolutionize photography by allowing the smallest cameras to take
crystal-clear zoom photos.
The new lens, five times thinner than a sheet of paper, can zoom and
focus with no moving parts, potentially eliminating the distortion
caused by digital zoom and the bulky glass of conventional optical
lens.
Drastic Improvement
Tigran Galstian, an engineer and physicist at Laval University who
has patented the new lens, says his invention could drastically
improve the blurry photos taken by small cameras.
Galstian said the lens would work in cellphone cameras that take
notoriously poor quality images.
"We have found an elegant and simple solution," said Galstian, who is
now looking for an industrial partner to help build a prototype and
overcome remaining technical hurdles.
"Right now we're guessing what industry needs and we'd love to work
with them on what they really want."
Fred Greenslade, a sports and wildlife photographer in Portage la
Prairie, Man., is intrigued by the invention.
Photographer's Dream
Like most professional photographers, Greenslade carries several
heavy lens on most assignments and must switch constantly for
different conditions.
"It sounds like something a photographer would dream up," said
Greenslade.
"I'll believe it when I see it but it sounds great. I guess I'd have
a few questions. Is it going to work? How fast will it be? What's the
quality going to be?
"But it sounds, in theory, like the best thing to have."
Galstian's lens adds a light-sensitive compound to a thin sheet of
liquid crystals, eliminating the need for the finely ground glass of
conventional photographic equipment.
When the sheet is zapped with a laser beam, the center becomes denser
than the edges of the lens.
Small jolts of electricity change the material in the lens to bend
light and adjust focus and zoom.
Conventional photographic lens move two pieces of curved glass to
zoom or focus, requiring bulky lens for top quality close-ups.
Adaptable Technology
Many small digital cameras zoom with computer processors, losing a
lot of picture quality in the process.
Galstian and associate Vladimir Presnyakov published their research
in the current edition of the Journal of Applied Physics.
The lens could eventually be adapted for super-lightweight eyeglasses
that could be adjusted for focal length, eliminating the need for
bi-focals, Galstian said.
"In the short-term, we are focusing on cellphones but in the long
term we think there could be many uses," Galstian said.
Galstian said researchers in France are working on a "competing
technology" that uses electricity and a liquid droplet.