Apple has received a comprehensive patent for a periscope camera system that is rumored to debut in the iPhone as early as next year.
The patent filed by Patently Apple discovered is simply titled “Folded camera” and was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office submittedPeriscope camera systems attempt to solve the problem of internal size limitations within a smartphone, which can limit image quality. The patent description states:
The advent of small, multi-purpose mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet or pad devices has created a need for small form factor, high-resolution cameras that are lightweight, compact, and capable of capturing high-resolution, high-quality images at low F-numbers for integration into the devices. The challenge in optical system design is to develop a lens system capable of capturing high-resolution, high-brightness images within the physical limitations of small cameras.
iPhone with periscope camera system could offer 10x optical zoom
Folded camera optics bend or "fold" the light absorbed by the image sensor, allowing for increased optical zoom and improved image quality while maintaining a compact lens design suitable for smartphones. The patent describes some of these benefits by explaining that "the prisms provide a 'folded' optical axis for the camera, for example to reduce the camera's Z height." Periscope technology would enable significantly increased optical zoom on iPhones, well beyond the current limits of 2x and 2.5x on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, respectively. Huawei's P40 Pro+ smartphone, for example, features a periscope lens with up to 10x optical zoom. Apple's folded camera system includes two light-folding elements, such as prisms, and an independent lens system located between the two light-folding elements. This lens system includes an aperture and a lens stack.
New camera system could debut as early as next year
The lens system can be moved independently of the light folding elements to enable autofocus and optical image stabilization.
The shapes, materials and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack can be chosen to capture high-resolution, high-quality images while providing a sufficiently long flange focal distance to accommodate the second prism.
The first iPhone models with a periscope camera lens system are expected in the next two years. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo initially said that the technology would debut in the iPhone in 2022. But Kuo has since revised his expectation and said it will be 2023. However, platforms such as The Elec claim that at least the Pro models will be equipped with the new camera technology as early as 2022. It was originally reported that Apple had difficulty developing its own periscope camera system because much of the technology is protected by third-party patents.
Apple patent confirms previous rumors
Samsung, for example, owns the “ball-type actuator” technology used in many periscope lenses. The granting of this new patent could indicate that Apple has now found a way to circumvent the reach of existing patents by developing its own technology with two lightweight folding prisms where normally only one prism is used. This could avoid the need to license or even purchase components from other patent holders while retaining the benefits of a periscope system. However, as with any patent – even if this previous rumors confirmed – in the end, the whole thing could remain just an idea. (Photo by Unsplash / TheRegisti)
