Apple got a new patent on removable lens, this time a bayonet mount

ByGabriele B.

Apple is taking a new patent on removable lenses on April 1, 2014, although it is a matter of lenses to become important when photographing with smartphones. Although Apple acquired two patents on removable lenses in January 2014, this patent adopts a new mechanism that is different from any other, and it is possible that some influence will be given to the iPhone in the future .

United States Patent: 8687299
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&S1=%28359%2F828.CCLS.+AND+20140401.PD.%29

Apple new patent for interchangeable iPhone camera lenses | Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/04/apple-receives-patent-for-interchangeable-iphone-camera-lenses/


Lens problems are becoming important to shoot good pictures. In the case of smartphone cameras, using a single focus lens for the rear camera makes it possible to keep the device body compact, but if you try to use complicated functions to take pictures with higher quality, of course the size of the main unit Will be larger. In order to solve this problem, there is also a method to make the lens detachable like a digital single lens reflex camera, and actually removable lenses are sold, but detachable lenses bulk out smartphones, There is time and effort to carry.

This problem is the camera lens problem of the iPhone Apple is about to defeat. Apple announced in January 2014 that the option lens with case detachable option and the magnet with removable option lensAcquired two types of patentsDid. HoweverAppleWith regard to these mechanisms, "I thought that existing detachable lenses will damage the beauty of the device, but that mechanism using magnets is not powerful enough to secure the lens firmly on the camera." Ultimately, Apple was not interested in the mechanism of damaging the design of the iPhone, but I wanted to fix the lens with a steady strength.


So, what came out is a new patent on camera lens that Apple acquired on April 1, 2014. This puts the claws of the lens in the gap of the mount claws, and when it turns to a certain angle it will be firmly fixedBayonet type mount"is. If you stick the camera and the lens, the iPhone itself may be damaged when the lens hits something or drops the iPhone together with the lens, but in the mechanism that gained the patent this time, the impact on the lens When it is added, the two devices are separated, and the other is made so that the impact is not transmitted.


For existing detachable lensesUse adhesive tapeType to do,Use attachmentThere are types to do. The former is a simple mechanism and the price is cheap, but the quality drops accordingly. On the other hand Sony'sDSC-QX 10However, the price is as high as around 20,000 yen, it is characterized by the unique lens and sensor storage without using lenses and sensors built into the smartphone. Apple's detachable lens is different from either of the "shooting without using adhesive tape" or "using sensor and storage built into iPhone".


Although this can be said to many companies, technology does not necessarily see the eyes of the sun just taking a patent. Especially Apple has avoided adding parts that can be replaced with iPhone. Although it can not be said that this patent is immediately reflected on the next iPhone, it is certainly a very interesting idea as a new iPhone option.

In iPhone 5, the rule of "wall of 20 icons" is brokenThe iPhone display will grow bigger and bigger from nowAlthough it was predicted, iPhone 6 will be adopting display of 4.7 inches (about 12 cm) or 5.5 inches (about 14 cm)? The prediction is also done.

Reuters: Next iPhone will come with with 4.7 "or 5.5" screen | Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/04/reuters-sources-say-next-iphone-will-come-with-4-7-or-5-5-screens/