A recently-revealed patent has indicated that Apple is apparently looking into a periscope lens feature for a “folding camera” in a next-gen iPhone.
Where it was previously reported that Apple is looking into a folding lens system that could reduce the camera bump on the back of its iPhones, the latest patent application, entitled “Camera Including Two Light Folding Elements,” is specifically concerned with the balance between having an improved camera while keeping the small form factor of an iPhone, or an iPad.
Per the application:
“The advent of small, mobile multipurpose devices such as smartphones and tablet or pad devices has resulted in a need for high-resolution, small form factor cameras that are lightweight, compact, and capable of capturing high resolution, high quality images at low F-numbers for integration in the devices. However, due to limitations of conventional camera technology, conventional small cameras used in such devices tend to capture images at lower resolutions and/or with lower image quality than can be achieved with larger, higher quality cameras.”
The patent highlights a need for a “photosensor with small pixel size and a good, compact imaging lens system.” But as these have been developed, demand for even better ones has increased.
“In addition,” it continues, “there are increasing expectations for small form factor cameras to be equipped with higher pixel count and/or larger pixel size image sensors (one or both of which may require larger image sensors) while still maintaining a module height that is compact enough to fit into portable electronic devices.”
Apple’s idea posits a lens system that could be configured within the camera to “move on one or more axed independently” of a prism or a mirror within the iPhone body. The patent goes on to describe several different combinations of types of lens, and the number of lenses, but broadly the proposal follows one core idea.
“The camera may include an actuator component configured to move the lens system,” it says, along with “two light folding elements (eg two prisms, or one prism and a mirror.”) As well as the zoom function that a periscope lens is expected to give, this particular configuration could also “provide optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality for the camera.”
The patent application is credited to Yuhong Yao, who has already been granted several patents on related topics.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and the United States Patent and Trademark Office