New Apple patent discloses an iPhone with Intercheangeable lens.
Mirrorless and Interchangeable system cameras are becoming more and more popular. And it looks like even Apple recognized the value of having a the possibility to change lenses on iPhones. The US20120147193 patent (Click here to see the document) describes an iPhone capable of using different kind of lenses! In short, it works like that: The back of the iPhone has a removable panel that includes the lens. By changing (image on top) or rotating (image on bottom) the panel you will change the lens used for the iPhone camera.
Apple writes:
“The digital imaging subsystem is typically enclosed within the case of the device to protect the digital imaging subsystem. The enclosure generally prevents direct access to the lens of the digital imaging subsystem for the purpose of providing any sort of supplementary optics, especially if the supplementary optics must be precisely aligned with the image sensor. 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.”
I think it’s unlikely this idea will ever be realized by Apple. The latest Macbook PRO Retina proves once again how Apple tends to protect the “inside” of their products. Can’t imagine they will let you open your iPhone!
Camaman
2 years ago |Very useful…
NOT!
But they had to patent it so that Cinamen dont do it first!:-)
Stageshadow
2 years ago |I don’t think that it will ever be realized like that…
I think it should work like the magnification lens in the Fuji x-pro1′s VF.
mirrorless
2 years ago |What a joke.. only for real apple fanboys.
Slush_fund
12 months ago |There is already this option from schneider and others on the current iphone…
How is this an invention?
Esa Tuunanen
12 months ago |You think actual first inventor has any meaning?
It’s who has patents what matters and this is just another potential hitting tool for Apple to suppress competition.
Camaman
12 months ago |Eeeeeexactly!… :-/
Sergio
12 months ago |Apple files patents to suppress competition? Gee, I hope that doesn’t catch on with other corporations. Imagine if camera companies filed lens patents. That would really suck.
geoff
12 months ago |@Esa Tuunanen
You obviously dont have a clue.
The fact that one company has not only come up with the invention but released a product based upon it means that there is prior art. Google “prior art” to educate yourself.
Sergio
12 months ago |The US is the only country that uses prior art as basis for granting a patent. Everyone else uses the “first to file” method. Effective March 13, 2013, however, the US Patent office is suppose to be switching to first to file, I believe.
Kevin
12 months ago |hopefully apple won’t get in the way of development of digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. apple’s been in the “file patent now, sue later” mode lately.
no cell phones please
12 months ago |iPhones, unfortunatelly, are the worst. Those things (and other cell phones) have made me so electrosensitive (not from own usage) that I can’t even stand next to someone using it. Even if they are in standby modus they are “on” all the time sending and receiving signals because other iphones connect to those next to them to find the next mast. If you really want to ruin your health use an iphone – once you have become electronsensitive there is almost no way back. And believe me, it’s not funny at all.
Joe
12 months ago |Lots of anti-Apple trolls here like “mirrorless” above. I guess it’s jealousy or something? How else to explain such anger at people who don’t use the same thing they do? Weird though as if Apple is different from any other company out there.
Joe
12 months ago |Looks interesting to me. Different lenses, normal and tele, at opposite ends with the orientation sensor to pick which one to use by simply rotating the phone. Could also possibly take both normal and tele photos at the same time I suppose.
Matt
12 months ago |That’s retarded with a capital R.
R
12 months ago |I like the concept in FIG 5. There are two lenses built into the case, so the case can be removed, rotated 180 degrees and replaced, and you get a wider or longer optic in front of your iphone sensor. No pieces to forget to bring with you or lose. nice!