Apple patent application reveals 3D still and video camera for iOS devices

“Apple has invented a killer 3D imaging camera that will apply to both still photography and video,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.

“The new cameras in development will utilize new depth-detection sensors such as LIDAR, RADAR and Laser that will create stereo disparity maps in creating 3D imagery,” Purcher reports. “Additionally, the cameras will use advanced chrominance and luminance Sensors for superior color accuracy. And if that wasn’t enough, the new cameras will not only include facial recognition but also facial gesturing recognition.”

Purcher reports, “The technology described in today’s invention will definitely provide iOS devices with the ability to view killer 3D images that could only be appreciated on Apple’s “Resolutionary” Retina Display. Apple’s resolutionary experience has only begun…”

Read more in the full article here.

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15 Comments

    1. I was going to say the same thing. I know this is getting old, but I wonder if this is part of the whole “I cracked tv” thing. I’ve been working a bunch with Kinect lately, and as cool as it is, I keep thinking if apple made it it would work 100 % of the time. Adding lidar, radar and lasers goes a huge way toward error checking enough to get a stable reading on someone.

      1. Kodak is an institution and an honorable one that should be saved, but Apple’s milestone inroads in photography are very significant and noteworthy if only to underscore Apple’s impact and input in their jointly developed IP.

  1. So, lets see where this can go. Apple has this new “killer 3D images” that their iOS devices can work with. Ok, so FaceTime works with all OS X and iOS products. New Apple TV this year.

    • So, will we be using “killer 3D images” on our Apple products and devices doing FaceTime with family and friends by Christmas and the holidays on our AppleTV driven HDTV, or retina screen Macs and iOS devices? Call home or FaceTime with family and friends. (FaceTime may kill off our home phones in 2 or 3 years.)

    • Will iPads become the video cam corder for this century? (Mine is.)

    • Are any of the iKillers still crying out “Look at me … Look at me.”

    Is anyone seeing the Apple tsunami yet?

  2. “The new cameras in development will utilize new depth-detection sensors such as LIDAR, RADAR and Laser that will create stereo disparity maps in creating 3D imagery,”

    It will also include a time travel unit so you can go back and get those shots you missed.

  3. Looking at the patent docs: This would be polarized light 3D tech.

    Therefore, somehow the display would have to have two polarizers for two switching images for each polarized light orientation. The viewer would have to wear polarizing filter glasses to see the image in 3D.

    Theoretically, you could create two polarizing grids out of LCDs, but they would have to be extremely fine in resolution, much finer than the Retina Displays offer. Maybe they could get away with just one polarizing grid with one of the eyeglasses filters blocking off polarized images when they switch into view.

    It’s all kind of messy, expensive and unimportant, as represented by the semi-flop of recent 3D TVs.

      1. This hinges on how polarization is accomplished on the display. I only imagine how it would be done but have no technical experience in what is actually possible. I know something about what is required for decent polarization and how it is done for film.

        1. Thanks, Derek. I remember when Microsoft entered the tablet space many years ago and now others with 3D TV, both falling short of expectations. Sounds like we will be keeping an eye on further developments.

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