A patent application published today suggests that Apple is investigating a twin-module camera system which could add some exciting new camera functions to future iPhones…
The patent report, published by the US Patent & Trademark Office and noticed by Patently Apple, suggests that the most basic new function could be capturing zoomed-in photos that maintain the same resolution of standard photos.
This would be made possible thanks to two separate camera modules behind a single lens. With just one lens having both standard and telephoto sections, you would have the option of switching between two different focal lengths with the same camera.
At a more advanced level, however, both camera modules could be utilized for simultaneous photo capturing and video shooting – all without the images being left compromised in their resolution, as has been the case with iPhones since the iPhone 5.
In the application, which was filed in 2015’s second quarter, there is even mention of generating 4K video, 1080p video, slo-mo video and still photos simultaneously. It isn’t difficult to imagine how this could enable the shooting of more insightful, for example, movies or journalistic video reports.
The publication of this patent application is no guarantee that the cited technology will actually emerge in any future Apple device – but it could certainly plausibly inspire development of other functions.