Nokia To Invest In 'array' Mobile Cameras That Use Small Lenses To Capture Big Images

[Jozi]

 

If the name "Pelican Imaging" rings a bell, it's possibly because we covered the company's array imaging camera prototype back in 2011. The technology uses multiple lenses that are relatively tiny in terms of how much space they take up in a mobile device, but which work together to capture an image of the same quality as a much larger camera -- just as array telescopes replace the need for one huge telescope. Now, it appears we weren't the only ones taking an interest, because Nokia's investment wing has revealed to Bloomberg that it's been watching the startup since 2008 and is currently planning to invest in it. Bo Ilsoe, of Nokia Growth Partners, describes Pelican's technology as being "on the cusp of being commercialized" -- so who knows? One day, a future Lumia might house 41 megapixels, image stabilization and the voodoo known as plenoptics. In the meantime, there's a video after the break which sort of explains how the technology sucks in enough data to allow for focus to be adjusted after a picture is taken -- a trick which also sounds rather familiar.

 

 

 

 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/30/nokia-to-invest-in-pelican-camera-tech/

 

[garbeth]

Pelican Imaging may be a fresh face on the market, but it drew lots of attention with its plenoptic imaging technology, which uses software to stitch together input from multiple small lenses into a single cohesive image.  

 

The resulting image not only rivals images taken from larger lenses, it also allows for dynamic adjustments to the focal length.  In many ways the multi-lens technology mimics nature -- insects see the world through multiple lenses, but their brain is thought to act as an image processor, stitching these images together into a single scene.

 

Now Finnish Windows Phone-maker Nokia Oyj. (HEX:NOK1V) has made a invest in Pelican worth up to $15M USD, hoping that the imaging firm's expertise can help it to beat out Android phonemakers and Apple, Inc. (AAPL) in smartphone imaging.

 

 

full post here:  http://www.dailytech.com/Nokia+Invests+in+Mobile+Camera+Firms+in+Bid+to+See+Like+a+Bug/article31454.htm

 

source Daily Tech

[Acefire]

This seems pretty cool. i wonder wonder how big these files will be though, considering it is like taking multiple pictures at once. And what are the implications for videos filmed in this manner? Seems like it might be more capable of producing a better 3d picture than current solutions. 

[kemical]

This will bring a great deal to the competition its like nokia's strength is in camera's