The Hidden World of Smartphone Cameras

AF, Haptic IC

 

  You've probably got a smartphone, right? And I bet you whip it out(take out) quite often to snap photos or record videos. Now, take a moment to think about your phone's camera. It might seem like it's just sitting there, not doing much, but inside that camera, the lenses are actually hard at work. 

 

  Let me give you an example. When you zoom in on something, like the logo on a building, your phone's camera uses smaller lenses that move forward to focus. On the flip side, when you're taking a pic of your buddy, bigger lenses come into play. Now, here's the cool part - these lenses can't move by themselves. So, you might wonder, what's making them zoom in and out? Well, there's this thing called an 'AF motor' that's resposible for moving the lenses when needed. 

 

  Zooming in isn't just a random thing, though. When you decide to zoom, there's some logic behind it. Your phone's IC chip senses your command and tells the AF motor to adjust the lenses. Speaking of the AF motor, it's got its own logic onboard. So, some tech companies create driver ICs with fancy copper lamination to provide a path for electrons to move around. 

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  You must have a smartphone, and I think you would often take your phone out to take a picture or a video. Take a look at your phone camera. It seems like it is fixed and never move even a little. But, in the world of the inside of the camera, lens are very busy on working. 

 

  Here is the example - when you zoom in something like a logo of a building with your phone camera, smaller lens move forward to focus on. In other hands, when you take a photo of your friend, bigger lens comes forward. Lens are just lens, which means they can't move by themselves. Then, you can imagine something is helping them move forward and backward. You got it. There is a actuator called 'AF motor' moves them when they need to. 

 

  Zooming in something needs a logic to do it. When you try to zoom in, a IC chip sense your order and order AF motor to move lens. In AF motor, I mean, there is a logic chip on it. So, some fabless companies draw driver IC that has many ways with coppered lamaniated on for electrons to move.