Advanced Miniature Camera Technology Enhanced for Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications

Researchers at Seoul National University have developed a groundbreaking camera system utilizing metasurfaces, significantly reducing lens thickness to just 0.7 mm—less than half that of conventional systems. This innovation, achieved through precise nano-optical designs, allows for the efficient manipulation of light within a compact structure, facilitating high-resolution imaging suitable for advanced technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and miniaturized devices. Supported by Samsung and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation, the research showcases the potential of metasurfaces in overcoming the physical limitations of traditional lens systems and is expected to lead to broader applications across various optical device industries. The findings, published in Science Advances, highlight a new frontier in camera technology, merging compactness with superior imaging performance.