PERCOSDECAM · Project

Compact 3D Depth Camera for Phones That Sees Five Times Farther at Half the Cost

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You know how your phone can scan your face to unlock? That uses a tiny depth camera — but current ones only work well up close, eat battery, and produce blurry depth maps. This team built a miniature stereo camera that sees accurate 3D depth out to 5 meters instead of just 1 meter, uses 7 times less power, and captures vastly sharper depth images — all in a smaller, cheaper package. Think of it like upgrading from a security peephole to a proper window, but inside your phone.

By the numbers

5 meters

Effective precision range (vs 1 meter for competing cameras)

1.45 Mpixels

Depth map resolution (vs 40 Kpixels for competitors)

Lower power consumption than second-lowest competitor

50%+

Reduction in bill-of-materials cost

1-2 devices

Replace 4 devices needed by TOF/structured light solutions

4 partners

All-industry consortium across 3 countries

The business problem

What needed solving

Current 3D depth cameras in phones and devices are expensive, power-hungry, low-resolution, and only work reliably at close range (about 1 meter). They also require multiple components, adding bulk and cost. This limits the quality of face recognition, AR/VR experiences, and biometric security that device manufacturers can deliver.

The solution

What was built

The team built functional prototypes of a periscopic stereo depth camera module with Android drivers and application software. Tested samples were characterized optically and electro-optically, and beta units were shipped to potential customers under NDA for evaluation ahead of planned volume production.

Audience

Who needs this

Smartphone and tablet manufacturers adding 3D camerasAR/VR headset makers needing compact depth sensingBiometric security companies building face recognition systemsLaptop manufacturers integrating presence detection and user authenticationRobotics companies requiring low-power real-time depth perception

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Consumer Electronics / Smartphones

enterprise

Target: Mobile phone or tablet manufacturers integrating 3D cameras

If you are a phone manufacturer struggling with bulky, power-hungry depth camera modules — this project developed a periscopic stereo depth camera that achieves the same precision at 5 meters as current structured light or time-of-flight cameras manage at 1 meter, while consuming 7 times less power and reducing bill-of-materials cost by over 50%. The module replaces 4 competing devices with just 1 or 2.

Cybersecurity / Biometrics

mid-size

Target: Companies building facial recognition or biometric authentication systems

If you are a biometric security provider needing reliable face recognition that works at greater distances — this camera module delivers 1.45 megapixel depth maps compared to the 40 kilopixels typical of competing solutions, enabling far more detailed facial geometry capture. It runs on Android and was tested with beta users, making integration into existing security products practical.

AR/VR / Spatial Computing

any

Target: Augmented or mixed reality headset and software developers

If you are an AR or VR company limited by slow, low-resolution depth sensing — this technology provides real-time 3D video and depth maps instead of just a few frames per second. The drastically higher resolution (1.45 megapixels vs 40 kilopixels) and 5-meter range open up room-scale AR experiences in a compact, low-power form factor suitable for mobile and wearable devices.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a depth camera module like this cost compared to current solutions?

The project objective states the bill-of-materials cost is reduced by more than 50% compared to competing structured light and time-of-flight cameras. Exact per-unit pricing is not published, but the BOM halving is a significant cost advantage at scale.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The consortium prepared functional prototypes and was actively preparing volume production as stated in deliverable D2.4. Samples were sent to beta users under NDA, indicating the technology was moving toward commercial manufacturing. The all-industry consortium (4 partners, 0 universities) supports a production-oriented focus.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The project was coordinated by Photonic Sensors and Algorithms SL, a Spanish SME. As an EU Innovation Action with 100% industry partners and no universities, IP is likely held by the consortium companies. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the coordinator.

Does this work with existing phone hardware and software?

Yes — deliverable D2.3 confirms Android drivers and application software were developed. The camera is designed as an embedded module for mobile phones, tablets, and laptop computers, targeting integration into standard consumer device form factors.

How does depth resolution compare to what is on the market today?

The project claims a jump from 40 kilopixels to 1.45 megapixels in depth map resolution — roughly a 36x improvement. This is based on stereo vision rather than structured light or time-of-flight, which also enables real-time 3D video instead of a few frames per second.

What is the realistic timeline to get this into products?

The project ran from March 2020 to February 2023 and is now closed. Functional prototypes were completed and beta samples shipped under NDA. Based on available project data, the technology was at the stage of preparing volume production by project end.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a lean, commercially focused consortium of 4 industry partners across Spain, Germany, and Switzerland — with zero universities or research institutes, which is unusual and telling. Three of the four partners are SMEs, and the coordinator (Photonic Sensors and Algorithms SL, Spain) is the technology originator. The 100% industry composition and Fast Track to Innovation funding signal this was never a research exercise — it was a sprint to get a working product to market. For a potential buyer or licensing partner, this means the technology was developed with manufacturing and integration in mind from day one.

PHOTONIC SENSORS AND ALGORITHMS SLCoordinator · ES
POLYOPTICS GMBHparticipant · DE
DJOUBI GMBHparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

Photonic Sensors and Algorithms SL (Spain) — contact via their website photonicsens.com or through SciTransfer for a facilitated introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See PHOTONIC SENSORS AND ALGORITHMS SL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to evaluate this depth camera technology for your product line? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the development team and provide a detailed technical brief.

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