Visa Innotech was founded in recognition of the understanding that the number of mobile devices would increase and continue to utilise camera modules to capture images - a prescient understanding of the market that has served the company well in its seven-year history. According to findings from Statista, smartphone shipments totalled over one billion units in 2023.

Vista Innotech’s MSG technology works to counteract any shaking that might occur in smartphone devices while capturing images, but also in other products like wearables and body cameras, demonstrating its widespread applicability. 

“It works like a traditional gimbal, and will drive the lens and image sensor together in the opposite direction of the vibration,” explained Dr. Edward Mak, CEO and Founder of the company, in an exclusive interview with Startups Magazine. 

An attractive feature of its MSG technology is in its size, which allows it to be embedded into compact devices with a small form factor. Imagine, for example, a small body camera that needs to be fitted to a security guard to maintain discretion. This is where Vista Innotech’s technology best suits.

According to Mak: “I think it’s the smallest gimbal in the world … compared with our competitors, our micro gimbal stabiliser is at least 30% smaller.”

The three-axis micro gimbal stabiliser, which won the award, has a patented motor structure with only four ball bearings, a significant reduction from the industry standard of 12 ball bearings.

“This is a breakthrough,” Mak stressed, “because with our patented structure, we only need four balls and one motor … that’s why we can make it very small.” 

Its MSG technology is integrated with its patented FPC design, which transfers image sensor signals from the image sensor in the MGS rotor to the stator. By being designed in a double L shape, the stabiliser has greater freedom to move in confined spaces and reinforces the company’s commitment to offering compact solutions by not occupying space outside of the MGS motor.

In talking about the award, Mak said: “Our competitors are very strong, and in the imaging category there were a lot of major players like GoPro, Samsung, and LG. We’re happy that we were recognised in the same category as them.”

The CES Innovation Award isn’t the only accolade the company has gained, as it counts the 2024 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days Silver Medal, 2023 Hong Kong and Macao Youth Innovation and Startup First Prize and the 2022 Winner of ‘MAKER IN CHINA’ Global Contest Final Championship among the prizes it has been awarded, recognising the value and relevance of its technology today.

From smartphones to consumer wearables and drones, Vista Innotech’s MSG technology represents an innovation backed by engineering to resolve shaking issues in capturing images, with widespread applications set to benefit a wide range of sectors.