A patent from Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) shows possible changes that could be coming to its iPhone cameras in the future.
The Apple patent it titled “Mirror Tilt Actuation” and it details a new system that could bring a zoom lens to a future version of the iPhone. The system works like a periscope and would project light down a 90-degree angel. This would allow for zooming in pictures and it also adds stabilization with the mirror being able to tilt to adjust for movement, reports Forbes.
While the ability to zoom in for a picture could be a boon to iPhone owners, it may not offer the best image quality. Running light through the periscope system could cause image quality to suffer and make pictures look worse when compared to current Apple devices. This could be what keeps the system from being used in the near future, Forbes notes.
Apple filed the camera patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in October of 2013. It takes priority over a patent titled “System and Method for Mirror Tilt Actuation” that was filed two months earlier, reports AppleInsider.
More From InvestorPlace
