Sentons announces device to add camera-like controls to smartphone

Sentons, a pioneer in Software-Defined Surfaces (SDS), launched SDS CameraBar, a solution to virtualize and expand smartphone camera operations using ultrasonics. CameraBar unlocks new ways for phone makers to deliver a customizable, ergonomic camera experience while eliminating the UX confinements of a purely on-screen experience. The modular solution enables hyper-responsive, shutter and zoom control replicating those of a point-and-shoot camera, without disrupting smooth industrial design aesthetics.

Powered by Sentons’ SDSwave technology, CameraBar extends the user interface of the device beyond the screen to transform a bezel-less edge into a force-sensitive touch interface that is able to recognize and distinguish presses, taps, slides and swipes. SDS CameraBar is composed of ultrasonically modulated discrete sensors distributed within two short bars.

Sentons says the virtual shutter-release button operates just like “a real camera,” a light press on the right side sets the focus and a hard press snaps the picture; and a slide-to-zoom feature on the left side for optical zoom.

“Device makers are providing ever-higher levels of photography on the latest smartphones, yet camera controls are still not yet at the levels of traditional digital SLRs,” said Jess Lee, president and CEO, Sentons. “We’ve decided to change all of this with CameraBar—a modular solution allowing smartphone camera operations to finally reach the same levels of the convenience of traditional cameras, and expand the UX beyond awkward tapping on the screen that obstructs the view and constraints how you hold the phone. With this, we continue our trend of bringing new levels of interactivity to mobile devices by bringing back the intuitive, user experiences that consumers have used for decades.”