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A deep tech startup working on the next generation of smartphone and IoT cameras wanted to assess the feasibility of replacing bulky traditional lenses with ultra-thin metalenses. Their system employs a film of microscale metalenses attached to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor to generate multiple sub-images (M x N grid) and reconstructs them into a single high-quality image using custom AI algorithms. To accelerate time to market, the client tapped into ITRex’s electronics prototyping and edge AI development services. We became their primary technology partner, providing guidance on platform selection, optimizing edge AI performance, and creating a compelling proof of concept (PoC) and investor pitch. Here’s how the project unfolded. Limitation of Existing Camera Lenses Traditional smartphone cameras focus light onto a sensor using thick glass or plastic lenses. As imaging demands increase, so does the number of necessary lens elements—hence the bulky, protruding modules that limit design flexibility for consumer electronics brands. Our client set out to change this by creating a next-gen metalens-based system: a wafer-thin film composed of microscopic lenses that sits directly on the image sensor. Rather than forming a full image in one go, this film generates multiple sub-images, with each sub-image capturing the scene from a slightly different angle or optical configuration. A custom AI algorithm then reconstructs a single, high-resolution image from this M x N array.
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