Miniaturization technology provider Tessera said today that its OptiML Zoom can achieve 3X optical zoom capabilities without moving parts.

Replacing traditional mechanical zoom capabilities, the OptiML Zoom integrates high-quality optical zoom functionality at a lower cost with higher reliability, also reducing the overall size of the camera module.

"Tessera is driving the convergence of digital still camera and cell phone capabilities, integrating its full range of consumer optics expertise - from image enhancement technologies to wafer-level optics expertise - to enable the next generation of smaller, smarter mobile devices," said Michael Bereziuk, chief operating officer, Tessera. "We believe the OptiML Zoom solution, which is the industry's first non-mechanical optical zoom solution, meets the growing demand for better functionality in camera phones, providing an optimal combination of price, performance, size and ease of integration."

Mechanical zoom solutions require moving parts, making them too expensive and too large for handset manufacturers to integrate into today's smaller, thinner cell phones - they also have the potential for mechanical failures. Digital zoom solutions are inexpensive but provide poor image quality.

The OptiML Zoom incorporates a lens design that increases the resolution in the center of the image without narrowing the field of view. The result is true optical magnification without loss of detail.

"Tessera's OptiML Zoom technology addresses many of the issues that have plagued camera phones since day one," said Tony Henning, senior analyst at Future Image, Inc. "We're optimistic about the adoption of Tessera's non-mechanical zoom capabilities by handset OEMs and module manufacturers, and the subsequent widespread availability of higher quality camera phones in the near future."