The US Patent and Trademark Office has awarded Apple a patent for a Light Field camera system that would enable the refocussing of an image after the initial shot is taken, similar to the Lytro camera.
The patent quite clearly describes a Light Field camera and its refocusing abilities:
A digital camera system configurable to operate in a low-resolution refocusable mode and a high-resolution non-refocusable mode comprising: a camera body; an image sensor mounted in the camera body having a plurality of sensor pixels for capturing a digital image; an imaging lens for forming an image of a scene onto an image plane, the imaging lens having an aperture; and an adaptor that can be inserted between the imaging lens and the image sensor to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode and can be removed to provide the high-resolution non-refocusable mode, the adaptor including a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses; wherein when the adaptor is inserted to provide the low-resolution refocusable mode, the microlens array is positioned between the imaging lens and the image sensor
Importantly, the patent goes on to describe how the technology could be included in portable devices, like an iPhone.
Unlike Lytro’s implementation of similar tech, Apple’s design features a “movable adaptor” situated between the lens and the imaging sensor. This allows for two separate camera modes: high-resolution non-refocusable and low-resolution refocusable. Lytro’s microlens component can be moved towards or away from the imagining sensor but can not be removed from the light path completely to create two different shooting modes.
While Apple patents numerous things and many of the inventions will never be included in any products, photography is such a key element in Apple’s iPhones that it may make more commercial sense than many of the other patents granted.
We also know Steve Jobs met with Lytro CEO Ren Ng in 2011 and was given a demonstration of the camera. Jobs said he wanted the companyt to work with Apple.
Of course, fitting this technology into something as thin and small as an iPhone is another challege entirely. You only have to look at the shape of Lytro’s camera to see that it’s not all that easy to squash the technology down to something as thin as the iPhone 5s.
Let us know what you think. Would you like to see Lytro-esque abilities in future iPhone models?
As flowing links from : http://www.todaysiphone.com/2013/11/patent-granted-apple-lytro-like-camera-suitable-inclusion-iphones/
Jerry's Command |
Apple iPhone6 adoptation of new technology to camera taking photography. I thought expect to iPhone or other smartphone will take place of digital camera. Because it already over functional digital photography with camera use with camera application. As incase of instagram already made place of application market. Even movie file share with youtube, vimeo and other share with SNS. More conbinition with user difine. |
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