Lumenuity, a Los Angeles-based optics startup, has raised $1.2 million in seed funding to launch its Light Unfolding® technology, which enhances optical zoom performance for smartphones. The company is collaborating with Qualcomm Technologies to integrate this technology with Snapdragon mobile platforms. The new optical system has potential applications beyond smartphones, such as in drones and augmented reality (AR) devices.
The company’s innovation promises to bring DSLR-quality zoom to mobile devices without adding bulk or cost. Instead of relying on multiple cameras for different functions like wide-angle or zoom, Lumenuity’s optical system can combine the performance of two cameras into one. This streamlines smartphone design and manufacturing, potentially lowering costs for consumers.
Founded by optics experts Dr. Benjamin Shapiro and Dr. Edo Waks, Lumenuity is refining prototypes that offer twice the zoom capacity of current smartphone cameras. The team is also working with DXOMARK to validate the new technology’s performance.
• Lumenuity raises $1.2M in seed funding for optical zoom tech
• Qualcomm collaborating to optimize for Snapdragon platforms
• Light Unfolding® tech combines camera functions into one lens
• Applications extend to drones and augmented reality (AR)
• Prototypes deliver double the zoom capability in smartphones
• Reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating need for multiple lenses
“Our patented Light Unfolding technology compresses unprecedented optical power into compact devices,” said Dr. Benjamin Shapiro, Lumenuity co-founder and CEO. “Consumers can capture stunning, high-quality images from their smartphones—virtually eliminating the need for bulky, high-end cameras.”
