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New Scale Technologies, Inc.
Company Description
New Scale Technologies (www.newscaletech.com) designs and manufactures miniature motion systems for precise movement of optics in imaging applications. Our simple and elegant products deliver best-in-class performance in consumer imaging, biometric authentication, surveillance, medical and machine vision markets. With more than a decade of motion systems innovation, we integrate piezoelectric micro motors, miniature drive control electronics and precise mechanical systems. Our customers benefit from complete solutions for rapid commercialization of their next generation products.
Contact Information
 121 Victor Heights Pkwy
Victor,NY
United States
Press Releases
| Benefits of New Scale’s miniature M3-F focus modules are proven in next-generation machine vision, biometric ID and medical cameras
Precision piezoelectric lens motion modules are now in production in camera systems from leading OEMs in key markets; more than 50 additional OEMs have completed qualification of camera systems to begin production in 2011- 2012
Victor, NY – Oct. 11, 2011 – New Scale Technologies (www.newscaletech.com) today announced that its miniature M3-F focus module is currently in production in commercial camera systems for biometric identification, medical devices and various machine vision applications by leading OEMs in these markets. More than 50 OEM additional customers have completed qualification of the M3-F focus module in vision systems that are slated to go into volume production over the next six months. New Scale and its OEM customers worked closely with precision lens manufacturer Sunex (www.sunex.com) on a large number of these projects for help with lens specification and optical system design.
"The ability to adjust focus using software is increasingly a high-priority feature in compact cameras for applications requiring high image quality along with fast and automatic image capture, such as biometric detection and medical devices," said David Simpson, vice president of marketing and sales for New Scale. "The widespread adoption of the M3-F is validation of its performance advantage and the ease with which it can be integrated into OEM board camera systems."
In biometric identification, the M3-F focus module improves usability by enabling image capture over a greater depth of field, typically about one inch to infinity depending on the lens. This makes it easier to position the eye in front of a biometric ID camera and results in a more accurate iris, face or fingerprint match with less time and effort on the part of the user.
In medical diagnostic systems, the M3-F focus module enables faster and more accurate sample analysis and alleviates the need for highly meticulous sample positioning. It also improves usability of medical devices such as endoscopic imaging by reducing the amount of time required to align the scope.
The M3-F also adds flexibility to machine vision systems, allowing them to image a wider variety parts without regard to their exact distance from the camera, and to image parts that have significant variations in depth.
With a footprint of 20 x 22 mm, a height of 16 mm and no external control board, the M3-F easily replaces fixed lens holders over CCD or CMOS image sensors without adding to the camera size. It is compatible with image sensors up to 17x17 mm, including the 1/2" and 1/1.8" formats.
The M3-F accepts high-quality glass or polymer lenses, which have greater transmission and clarity than non-traditional composite lenses of liquid or liquid crystal. It accepts standard threaded lens assemblies from M8 to M12 in size and up to 5 grams in weight.
The M3-F moves lenses with 0.5 micron position resolution and very low tip/tilt, keeping the image focused on the center of the image sensor. The embedded closed-loop drive delivers high repeatability, low temperature dependence and no hysteresis. |
| New Scale patent: UTAF piezo motor for next-gen phone cams
Victor, NY – November 18, 2010 - New Scale Technologies, Inc. has received its fifth U.S. patent for miniature piezoelectric motor technology. Trade-named the UTAF motor (for Ultra-Thin Auto Focus, its target application), the tiny new device integrates all ultrasonic motor functions into a single piezoelectric ceramic beam measuring only 4.5 X 0.82 X 0.7 mm.
U.S. patent # 7,786,648 was issued Aug. 31, 2010 to inventors Qin Xu and David Henderson by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Technology and licensing
Piezoelectric ceramics vibrate in response to electrical signals ultrasonic motors translate those micrometer-scale vibrations into larger motion through friction contact. The UTAF motor uses an innovative co-fired multi-layer ceramic process to create a single beam composed of many thin layers of piezo ceramic. Sub-segments of the monolithic beam are energized independently, causing the beam to vibrate simultaneously in two orthogonal directions as its motion mechanism. Frequency, phase and amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrations are controlled by a two-phase drive circuit. Because the layers are very thin, they respond to signals of only 3 volts or less. This is a significant advantage in smart phone camera applications, as it allows the UTAF motor to operate directly from the phone battery.
New Scale has licensed its UTAF motor patent to TDK-EPC (EPCOS), a world leader in manufacturing advanced multi-layer piezoelectric ceramics. "The UTAF motor combines the motor design innovation of New Scale Technologies with the world-class manufacturing capabilities of EPCOS," stated David Henderson, New Scale's founder and co-CEO. "Together we have created a truly unique solution for adding high-performance auto focus to smart phone cameras."
UTAF motor enables ultra-thin auto focus cameras
The UTAF motor is combined with several other patent-pending innovations to deliver a complete ultra-thin auto focus actuator module for next-generation ultra-thin mobile phones with image sensors better than 8 MP. These innovations include advanced drive electronics incorporated into New Scale's NSD-2101 driver IC, a compact lens module design with a high-efficiency pin-bushing guide, and "Smart Step" control software that optimizes speed and accuracy while minimizing acoustic noise. The UTAF Ultra-Thin Auto Focus module enables continuous auto focus for video capture, as well as faster focus more rapid picture taking. The complete UTAF actuator module measures less than 4 x 8.5 x 8.5 mm.
"Each year more than 1 billion cameras are purchased by consumers in mobile phones. The fastest-growing segment is smart phones, where the camera is expected to replace stand-alone digital still cameras," said Henderson. "The patented UTAF motor and the integrated UTAF actuator module meet the most demanding smart phone camera requirements for speed, image sharpness, video quality, and battery life. We're excited to be part of this major market opportunity." |
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