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Apple’s clever idea for making your iPhone’s camera even better

Published Feb 12th, 2015 10:15PM EST
Apple iPhone Camera Patent
Image: Zach Epstein, BGR

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Apple is always looking for ways to improve the iPhone’s camera performance and AppleInsider has stumbled across a new patent that shows Apple has some very clever ideas for making iPhone cameras better than ever.

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The patent in question details a proposed technology called “Mirror Tilt Actuation” that aims to help your camera maintain high picture quality even if you aren’t holding it steady by adjusting it for your hand’s movements. Apple says that this new technology will be an improvement upon the existing Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology that the company used in its smartphones for the first time with the iPhone 6 Plus last fall.

So how would this work, practically speaking?

“[Apple’s] concept includes a lens and mirror assembly that would admit light into the camera,” explains AppleInsider. “The camera would include a ‘folded optics arrangement,’ in which light would enter the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens. The light would then be redirected with a mirror at a right angle, where it would be sent to the remaining movable lens elements. To compensate for a user’s hand movement and any jitters in picture taking, Apple’s camera would include an actuator for tilting the mirror according to movement of the iPhone.”

In other words, it sounds like Apple wants to build a mechanism in the camera that will move the camera’s mirror in tandem with your hand to make sure your picture quality can be maintained even if your hand is a bit shaky.

Be sure to read more about this potential new technology by checking out AppleInsider’s full report here.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.