LV4522 uses proprietary technology to transform a liquid crystal cell into a variable focus lens, said to consume about 80% less power than the traditional mechanical lens currently used in mobile devices. Since the device does not use any moving parts, manufacturing LV4522 costs about half as much as it does to manufacture voice-coil motors and is inherently more reliable. Additionally, each module is seamlessly integrated into each smartphone, not requiring individual adjustment or tuning by the handset manufacturer.
LensVector has made initial shipments though its partnership with production partner Sunny Optical to Vital Mobile, which is currently selling LV4522-enabled phones in Taiwan, Bangladesh and India under the Karbonn brand.
As LV4522 ships, LensVector is preparing to ship its next-generation lens by year's end, which provides dramatically higher image resolution, twice the focusing speed of most mechanical lenses, and a minimum focus distance of just 5cm, half the distance of most existing lenses used in mobile devices.
The current lens and the next-generation lens are based on patented technology that transforms a liquid crystal cell into a variable focus lens using small electrical charges to dynamically change the refractive index of the lens material:
