Apple researching an iPhone swappable camera lens technology

[dgstorm]

The iPhone camera has always been very proficient and attracted a lot of fans. So many fans actually that at some point this year Flickr users voted the Apple camera as being the number one choice at the expense of classic camera options Canon and Nikon.
Apple is of course trying to improve the technology and while we don’t really know what to expect from the photographic features hidden inside the next generation iDevice, we’re pretty sure it’ll be something quite amazing.

A recent patent application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week, entitled “Back Panel for Portable Electronic Device with Different Camera Lens Options”, might shed a gleam of light concerning what Apple is planning to do to the camera. According to the information in the patent, the Cupertino group is considering swappable lenses for the upcoming iDevices.

““It would be desirable to provide a structure for a compact device that allows the end user to reconfigure the optical arrangement of the device while retaining the benefits of assembling the device using a pre-assembled digital imaging subsystem“

This means that Apple would be adding a digital imaging subsystem that will feature a lens with an optical axis. A back panel that can be taken off when needed will shield the digital imaging subsystem. Thus users will be permitted to rearrange the optics of the camera. In order to prevent infrared light from damaging the picture’s color Apple will also add an IR-cut filter on the above mentioned panel. The filter would come with the possibility of being removed in order to take black-and-white pictures.

By Radu

Source: Apple interested in swappable iPhone camera lenses

 

[darweshs]

Most patents dont make it to the final products. I dont think this will ever happen on an iphone.