Apple's new patent granted: folding camera for mobile phone

CTOnews.com, March 13 (Xinhua) Apple recently granted a patent for a "folding camera".

A folding camera is described, which includes two optical folding elements such as a prism and an independent lens system located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture diaphragm and a lens stack. The lens system can move on one or more axes independently of the prism to provide autofocus and / or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shape, material, and arrangement of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high-resolution, high-quality images while providing a sufficient rear focal length to accommodate the second prism.

As previously reported by CTOnews.com, Apple applied for a "folding lens system" as early as 2019, through which the patented Apple camera lens can be reflected through a prism, so it does not need to protrude outside the back of the phone, effectively alleviating the bulge problem of the Apple camera. However, the patents mentioned above have not yet been applied to Apple phones.