We propose a camera that can maintain its thin dimension even when it utilizes a lens with a large focal length to zoom out. Large focal lenses have made the structure of a conventional camera thick. In this research, we show how reflective optics prevents a camera from requiring significant thickness. To demonstrate the concept, we fabricated a double focus lens and a micro-mirror structure that has flexible hinges and was actuated by external magnetic fields. The view with the double focus was selected by actuating the mirror.

References :
Hideyuki Kinoshita, Kazunori Hoshino, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Isao Shimoyama, “Thin Compound Eye Camera with a Zooming Function by Reflective Optics,” 18th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS '05), pp. 235-238, Miami, Fulorida, USA, January 30-February 3, 2005. [Proceedings]

Hideyuki Kinoshita, Kazunori Hoshino, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Isao Shimoyama, “A Thin Camera with a Zoom Function using Reflective Optics,” Sensors and Actuators A, vol. 128, no. 1, pp. 191-196, 2006. [Paper]

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