Samsung files patent application for camera system that features variable apertures
Images from Samsung’s patent application. Credit LetsGo Digital
Additional cameras can be added, but for illustrative purposes let’s assume that there is a triple-camera setup with a wide-angle lens in the middle, the ultra-wide lens on the left, and the telescopic lens on the right. In an alternative arrangement, the camera sensors are arranged in a triangular setup and are placed behind secondary lenses with different apertures. When arranged in a triangle, the cameras have a wider aperture allowing more light in to reach the sensor. When arranged in horizontally, the aperture narrows.
Besides controlling the size of the aperture depending on lighting conditions, those who like to snap portraits with the blurred bokeh background will be able to use a large aperture to help create the blurry bokeh background. When taking images of a city or shooting a landscape, a smaller aperture is recommended in order to create sharper images.
Another thing to consider is that there are plenty of parts and moving pieces involved that can easily be damaged if the phone takes a sharp fall. Despite the fragility of this system, other phone manufacturers are believed to be working on something similar. LetsGo Digital says that a year ago it reported that Xiaomi was trying to develop a movable camera.
Samsung needs to do something to generate interest in its Galaxy S flagship line.
Samsung needs to do something because if it can’t regain momentum, it is going to find itself looking up at Xiaomi in the global smartphone shipping tables.
In case you were curious, the patent was filed by Samsung Electro-Mechanics. This Samsung unit produces several components including printed circuit boards, camera modules, network modules, and semiconductor substrates.
