Sharp Develops Slim, Stabilised Phone Camera Module

Size and slimness are key selling points for smartphones and tablets, which is why Sharp's new super-slim 5.5 mm camera module has got people talking. However, the fact that it also integrates an optical stabilisation system is perhaps even more interesting than its size, as this is still very rarely seen in mobile phone cameras.

On paper, the tech specs of Sharp's RJ63YC100 camera module aren't particularly revolutionary, as it has a 12-Megapixel BSI CMOS sensor that measures 3.3 x 4.4 mm. That means each pixel measures 1.1 µm across, which is certainly very small, but which has been seen before—likewise for Full HD video. The lens covers a 61° field of view (equivalent to 32 mm) and has an aperture of f/2.5, specs which, again, aren't all that special for a cameraphone.

Sharp is proudly proclaiming the originality of this module's design, as at 5.47 mm thick, it's apparently the industry's 'thinnest CMOS camera module with optical stabilisation'.

In reality, this isn't actually the thinnest camera module out there, as the latest 8-Megapixel module from OmniVision, for example, is just 4.7 mm thick. What's more, Sharp itself has already launched several 5 mm 5-Megapixel modules. In fact, Sharp's real innovation lies in the optical stabilisation system.

Optical Stabilisation In Smartphones?

As far as we're concerned, the really interesting thing about this new camera module is its optical stabilisation. While smartphones may now use sensors that are technically very similar to those used in stand-alone digital cameras, it's still very rare to see a cameraphone equipped with any kind of genuine stabilisation system—in fact, this could well be the first of its kind.

A smartphone camera with optical stabilisation would take clearer, sharper shots in lower light conditions, so long as the subjects aren't moving around too much—optical stabilisation can't compensate for that.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of picture quality this new module gives. It's already fairly safe to assume that the 12 Megapixels won't make pictures any more detailed than the previous 8-Megapixel modules, as diffraction is likely to limit image precision from full aperture and slimmer lenses often compromise some quality in favour of size.

So, on paper, while this Sharp camera might not necessarily make smartphones much thinner, it looks like it could finally bring genuine optical stabilisation to mobile phone cameras. About time too!

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