Samsung Explores Integrated Interchangeable Phone Lenses in New Patent
Imagine attaching a different lens to your phone for that perfect wide-angle or stunning telephoto zoom. Third-party lens attachments are available, but a recently discovered patent suggests Samsung has been thinking about something more integrated. The patent, filed last year and published recently, describes an intriguing housing mechanism for interchangeable components, primarily camera lenses.
How This Samsung System Might Work
From the patent figures listed by tech journalists, the concept seems to revolve around a unique square housing unit that covers the phone's built-in camera area. This housing is what looks to be at the core of the system, perhaps holding a number of the key components:
- The Housing Itself: The middle attachment piece.
- Lens Assemblies: The interchangeable lenses that are designed to snap into the housing.
- Image Sensor: To capture the light that passes through the mounted lens.
- A Motor/Actuator: This clever bit of kit would likely be used for the mechanical functions, like moving the lens or sensor back and forth for zooming or focusing, and maybe even stabilizing.
In contrast to simple clip-on lenses, this one seems more sophisticated, with the actuator mechanism built into the phone housing attachment rather than in the lens itself, perhaps saving space and complexity in the individual lenses.
Smart Lenses Identifying What's Attached
A key feature of such a system would be the knowledge of which lens is in use at any given time. The patent mentions a couple of ways this could take place, perhaps using magnets, tiny RFID tags detected by an antenna inside the phone, or even simple resistors. Once the phone detects the lens is installed, it could then automatically revert to default camera settings like aperture (F-number) or initial focus positions in order to optimize results.
More Than Just Lenses
The patent promises that this module housing might not be limited to just camera lens alone. It talks about the installation of other "accessory assemblies." Do we have snap-on flashes, extra battery packs, even a small secondary display or cooling system. The scope for customization seems huge.
Don't Get Too Excited Just Yet
One needs to remember, though, it's just a patent application. Samsung files for dozens of ideas, and rarely do any ever become products. It means they are looking at the idea, but it's not exactly the stamp of approval we'll have this on a future Galaxy device.
But now with the likes of CMF experimenting with using external lens attachments, the idea of more smartphone photography modularity isn't such a pipe dream after all. Samsung looking into its own integrated solution makes total sense. We'll just have to wait for now and see if this solid concept ever gets plugged in.
Information based on patent filing information provided to WIPO.
