The only thing stopping smartphones from being truly flat is their camera lenses, which need a certain size and shape of bulky glass to function.

Scientists have now developed a 1x1 millimetre (0.03x0.03 inches) 'lensless camera' computer chip that uses algorithms to capture images.

The chip fits into a small camera design and converts light signals into images by delaying the way that light is captured on the chip just like a real camera lens.

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Scientists have now developed a 1x1 millimetre (0.03x0.03 inches) 'lensless camera' computer chip (right) that uses algorithms to capture images. The tiny device (left) converts light signals into images by delaying the way that light is captured on the chip just like a real camera lens

HOW DOES IT WORK? The Caltech team created a 2D, lensless camera that can capture a low resolution image of a bar code. While the image is grainy and difficult to make out, as a proof of concept it is a significant step toward lensless technology. The OPA manipulates incoming light to capture an image just like a conventional lens, but does so using computing power. By adding a time delay - down to a quadrillionth of a second - to the light received at different locations on the chip, the OPA can change focus without a lens. The chip currently consists of an 8x8 grid with 64 sensors in total, but this could be expanded in future to take higher quality images. Advertisement

Normally taking good pictures requires a certain size and shape of lens to focus at a range of distances.

Lenses have a curve that bends the path of incoming light and focuses it onto a piece of film or, in the case of digital cameras, an image sensor.

Engineers at California Institute of Technology have now developed a camera design that replaces lenses with an ultra-thin optical phased array (OPA) chip.

The OPA manipulates incoming light to capture an image just like a conventional lens, but does so using computing power.

It is covered by an array of light sensors that can each add a tightly controlled time delay to the light it receives.

By adding a time delay - down to a quadrillionth of a second - to the light received at different locations on the chip, the OPA can change focus without a lens.

Engineers developed a design that replaces the lenses with an ultra-thin optical phased array (OPA). The OPA manipulates incoming light to capture an image just like a conventional lens, but does so using computing power. Pictured is the camera setup used by the team

The Caltech team created a 2D, lensless camera that can capture a low resolution image of a bar code (a and b). While the images it took are grainy (c and d), as a proof of concept it is a significant step toward lensless technology

'We've created a single thin layer of integrated silicon photonics that emulates the lens and sensor of a digital camera, reducing the thickness and cost of digital cameras,' lead researcher Professor Ali Hajimiri said.

'It can mimic a regular lens, but can switch from a fish-eye to a telephoto lens instantaneously - with just a simple adjustment in the way the array receives light.'

Professor Hajimiri and his team created a 2D, lensless camera that can capture a low resolution image of a bar code.

While the image is grainy and difficult to make out, as a proof of concept it is a significant step toward lensless technology.

The chip currently consists of an 8x8 grid with 64 sensors in total, but this could be expanded in future to take higher quality images.

In future the team plan to scale the camera and create larger, more sensitive light sensors to improve picture resolution.

The camera can only take simple images right now (pictured). The chip consists of an 8x8 grid with 64 sensors in total, but this could be expanded in future to take higher quality images