Optimising the performance of mobile device cameras

Corning Incorporated (Corning) announced a new category for its scratch-resistant and durable glass composite products, Corning® Gorilla® Glass with DX and Corning® Gorilla® Glass with DX+. The application of this technology to mobile device cameras enables professional-grade image capture through a unique combination of advanced optical performance, superior scratch resistance, and durability.

Since 2010, the number of photos taken globally has increased from 350 billion to a projected 1.4 trillion per year. And, consumers regularly cite mobile camera technology as one of the most important factors in their purchasing decisions.

For mobile device cameras to provide professional-grade image quality under all lighting conditions, it is critical to maximise the amount of ambient light captured and minimize all reflection within the camera systems.

Antireflective coatings have long been used on conventional cameras to improve light capture, according to Jaymin Amin, vice president and general manager, Corning Gorilla Glass. However, these coatings have a propensity to scratch easily, negatively impacting image quality. Corning’s Gorilla Glass composites not only provide mobile device camera lens covers with enhanced scratch resistance and durability compared to traditional coatings, but also the improved optical performance required for these devices.

Answering consumer demand for high-quality image and video capabilities, smartphone manufacturers have integrated advanced functionalities, such as telephoto, wide-angle lenses, and infrared sensors. To achieve this level of sophistication, the size and number of cameras on smartphones continue to grow, while the prominence of the lens surface area has increased notably – significantly driving the likelihood of scratches and damage through everyday use.

Corning has engineered the ideal solution for camera lens covers. By capturing 98% of light for the camera lens, the glass composites augment the full capability of the camera design and help create high-quality images and videos. Corning Gorilla Glass DX products offer the industry’s best combination of optical performance and protection for the ultimate consumer experience.

Samsung will be the first customer to adopt the Gorilla Glass DX products for camera lens covers.

Gorilla Glass has been designed into more than 8 billion devices by more than 45 major brands. Through its Mobile Consumer Electronics Market-Access Platform, Corning continues its legacy of innovation with market-leading cover glasses, as well as glass and optics for semiconductor products that enhance performance, deliver new connectivity features, enable new designs, and support immersive user experiences with augmented reality and 3D sensing. Since 2016, Gorilla Glass DX products have been utilized on more than 30 million wearable devices and are now being adopted on mobile camera lens covers.