Atlantic Bridge
Assembly Line
Cambridge Mechatronics secures over $40m investment to further develop its revolutionary smartphone imaging technology
Cambridge Mechatronics Limited (CML), the world leader in the design and control of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators, announces the closing of a funding round totalling over $40m to enable rapid expansion of its actuator and controller IC product portfolios. The oversubscribed funding round was led by Atlantic Bridge. Intel Capital and Supernova acted as co-leads with further participation from Sony Innovation Fund.
Smartphone innovation is dominated by camera technology, fuelled by the growth of social media and video sharing platforms. CML is primarily focused on developing disruptive solutions for improving smartphone imaging, including SMA actuators and controller ICs. SMA actuators generate a high force-to-mass ratio, performing precision movements of camera components to achieve autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilisation (OIS), in a more compact and lightweight design. Compared to incumbent voice coil motor technology, SMA is free of electromagnetic interference. CMLâs new SMA Variable Aperture provides continuous aperture control in a form-factor significantly smaller than the industry standard. The patented Zero Hold Power technology holds components such as the aperture in place during image capture whilst consuming no power.