Cameras in cell phones are getting better and better, and now Hitachi Maxell has announced [JP] its contribution to make them more worthwhile: the world’s smallest lens modules for camera phones. And the company managed to reduce the mechanical noise picked up when you make video clips with your phone, too.
The company achieved the reduction in size by rolling the optical lenses and the actuator into one. The coin you see on the picture is 20mm in diameter.
The new modules also have piezoelectric elements in the actuator mechanism to make the lenses focus (instead of voice coil motors). As a result, the lenses move quietly and you don’t hear any noise when recording video with sound.
Hitachi Maxell says they will begin shipping the new lens modules in December this year, with plans to initially produce one million units monthly.