Experts of the Japanese company Nidec Copal Corp, which specializes in the manufacture of optical components and digital camera components, have developed and manufactured prototypes of what can be called the smallest and lightest camera for mobile devices in the world today. This camera module measures 8.5 x 8.5 x 4.2 millimeters and weighs 0.57 grams. The Nidec Copal module is twice the size and weight of anything that has been created in this area to date.
Inside this module is a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor with an optical size of 1/3.1 inch at a pixel size of 1 micrometer. The focal length and maximum aperture are 3.6 and 1.9 millimeters, respectively. The sensor has an autofocus function and it provides shooting from a distance of 10 centimeters to infinity.
It should be noted that with its characteristics this new camera will not be able to claim a place in mobile devices, not just the highest, but also the average price category. Most likely such cameras will appear in smartphones and tablets of the budget category. In addition, due to their small size and weight such cameras can become the basis of computer vision systems, which will be equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles, small-sized robots and any other equipment, which will be needed to see its surroundings.
Nidec Copal Corp plans to begin mass production of the new miniature camera modules at the end of 2016, and the first electronic devices with these cameras could appear on the market as early as next year 2017.
