Researchers at the University of Utah have developed an optic-less camera. The technology allows a see-through window, or regular pane of glass, to take on the role of a lens.

According to Rajesh Menon, University of Utah electrical and computer engineering associate professor, cameras were created based on a central idea—that humans will view and interpret the images. However, the researchers shifted the focus from human interpretation to a computer running on an algorithm.

“Why don’t we think from the ground up to design cameras that are optimized for machines and not humans. That’s my philosophical point,” says Menon.

What would happen if a typical digital camera sensor was aimed at an object without a lens? Well, the final image would look more like a pixelated mess than an HD masterpiece. Even though it may seem unclear to humans, the pile of pixels still contains enough data for an algorithm to decode the intended image.

In lab experiments, the team took a few pictures and videos, including a photo of the University of Utah’s “U” logo. The image, which was displayed on an LED light board, was positioned in front of a plexiglass window. An inexpensive camera sensor was attached to the window’s side, which placed the logo at a 90-degree angle from the font sensor.

You can view the setup in the image below.

The final picture was low res, but was still recognizable to the human eye. This was possible thanks to the cooperation of the algorithm run by a computer processor and the camera sensor.

Although it’s not the best quality, the final resolution is still suitable for obstacle avoidance sensor applications. According to researchers, if more powerful camera sensors were used, the resulting images would also increase in resolution.

The team believes lenless cameras can find a place within many industries. Cameras could use household windows as lenses, fortifying home security. A car windshield could act as a sensing device, since cameras could be placed alongside its edges. The medical field can also benefit by inserting this tech into biometric or retina scanners.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it opens up an interesting way to think about imaging systems,” says Menon.

Next, the researchers will move forward with research and development, increasing resolution under different lighting conditions, and creating 3D images.

The full research details can be found in the paper, “Computational Imaging Enables a ‘See-Through’ Lensless Camera,” published in Optics Express (in press).