North Korea has created an ultra-thin photomodule with a 140‑degree field of view

New ultra-thin cameras for mobile devices

Modern smartphones are limited by the size of built-in cameras, so Apple had to use only one rear camera when creating the ultrathin iPhone Air. South Korean engineers proposed a different approach: develop a camera with a 140° field of view and a thickness of less than 1 mm.

Nature-inspired idea

A team from KAIST found inspiration in the facet vision of insects. Instead of one large lens, they use several mini-lenses that create a “mosaic” image of the surrounding world. This principle allows for a wide field of view without blurring the periphery, which is characteristic of traditional wide-angle cameras.

Compactness and performance

The SOEMLA camera sits just 0.94 mm above the printed circuit board, whereas typical wide-angle modular cameras can be up to 8.3 mm thick. This makes it attractive for integration not only in smartphones and wearables but also in medical equipment, such as endoscopes.

Open questions

- How will the camera handle recording high-resolution video?

- Will it be able to capture details in low light?

- What will be the costs of mass production and how can it be integrated with other device components?

Answers to these questions are not yet known, but the prospects for using ultra-thin cameras in mobile technology look promising.