Seiko Instruments starts manufacturing "liquid lens" focusing on liquid for mobile camera

It seems that Seiko Instruments will begin mass production of "liquid lenses" that can focus on lenses by using liquid rather than conventional machines for small devices such as mobile phones.

As a result, it is expected that miniaturization and power saving of the camera, speeding up of autofocus, and silence will be expected, as well as durability and impact resistance will be improved.

the detail is right below.
Mass production of liquid lens of Varioptic lens focusing on liquid in autumn

According to this release, Seiko Instruments Inc. has made a business tie-up with mass production of liquid lenses developed by Varioptic of France and Varioptic.

A liquid lens utilizes a technology in which an aqueous solution and oil are sealed in a lens holder (container), and the shape of the boundary surface between the aqueous solution and the oil is changed by applying a voltage to the aqueous solution from the upper and lower electrodes of the container, The surface becomes a variable focal length lens whose focal length is adjusted by voltage change.

In addition, as compared with conventional lens movable type focus adjustment mechanism, liquid lens does not require complicated mechanical parts, so it can be miniaturized with few parts, and it is possible not to use moving parts, Because it is, it is also excellent in impact resistance and durability.

Furthermore, since the focal length is changed by the change of voltage, it is possible to realize high speed / mute and energy saving of focus adjustment. In the autumn of 2008, it seems that mass production of the 5 million pixel model and the 3 million pixel model will start.