Apple’s 2020 iPhone could have a ‘world-facing’ 3D camera system that make photos pop off the screen
- Apple was set to add a 3D camera to the iPhone 11, but it was not released
- Now, a report suggest it will be in the 2020 iPhone, according to Fast Company
- The system uses a laser to bounce light ‘pulses’ off objects
- Then it measure how far away they are, a technique known as time of flight
It seems every year Apple amazes us with a new camera system – and 2020 will not be any different
Sources told Fast Company that this year’s iPhone will feature a ‘world-facing’ 3D camera system that would make pictures ‘pop off the screen.’
The system reportedly uses a laser to bounce light ‘pulses’ off objects and measure how far away they are, a technique known as time of flight.
The report suggests the design will enable new photo and video effects, along with improve the smartphone’s augmented reality experiences – a feature that Apple is set to release in the next iOS update.
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Sources told Fast Company that this year’s iPhone will feature a ‘world-facing’ 3D camera system that would make pictures ‘pop off the screen.’ The system reportedly uses a laser to bounce light ‘pulses’ off objects and measure how far away they are, a technique known as time of flight
News about Apple’s 3D camera first surfaced in 2017 and was set to be included in the iPhone 11, according to a report from Bloomberg.
In the same year, the tech giant had filed a patent for the technology.
Apple noted in their patent filing that ‘The system also comprises a light source, such as a laser #22, which is driven by a laser driver to direct a light beam through a DOE which typically comprises a diffractive lens.’
One of the engineers credited in the patent, Jawad Nawasra is also credited with another 3D mapping patent titled Time-of-flight depth mapping with flexible scan pattern.
The report suggests the design will enable new photo and video effects, along with improve the smartphone’s augmented reality experiences – a feature that Apple is set to release in the next iOS update (pictured is the iPhone 11)
It explains: ‘Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which acquires an image of a scene, and a scanner, which includes an optical transmitter, which emits a sequence of optical pulses toward the scene, and an optical receiver, which receives the optical pulses reflected from the scene and generates an output indicative of respective times of flight of the pulses.
But according to the latest report from Fast Company, Apple may finally put its plans into motion.
Sources say the firm will purchase the lasers from San Jose-based Lumentum, the same company that currently supplies the laser for the iPhone’s front-facing 3D camera.
With the new system, users will have the ability to shoot high-tech videos with a device while on the go.
Fast Company suggested gave the example of capturing a video of a skateboarder while mid-air that is ‘rendered in full 3D and slow motion.’
Apple is also rumored to be developing a new augmented reality app in its iOS 14 that will let users capture information of the world around them.
First discovered by 9to5Mac, the technology appears to be integrated with Apple Stores and Starbucks.
Users would point their smartphone at an area of the store, open the app and be presented with information in a 3D format.
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