Apple's new iPhone tech could greatly improve flash photography and video
Apple is preparing a radical hardware upgrade capable of dramatically improving camera quality in a range of products, including the iPhone.
The upgrade, revealed in a newly-granted patent, comes in the form of a new type of camera flash based on laser-pumped phosphor light sources, rather than the commonly-used LED illumination used today. If successful, it will bring brighter illumination, better-quality light, and entirely new features to the iPhone.
What are the advantages of Apple’s new flash technology?
The new flash technology provides several advantages over typical LED flash modules and would bring unique camera capabilities to iPhones, giving Apple’s cameras a distinct advantage wherever flash photography or video illumination is required.
Adjustable light beam
Apple’s new flash design is capable of zooming in and out along with the camera’s lens, providing a wider spread of light for wide-angle shots or narrowing down to a tighter beam when the camera’s telephoto lens is used. This means the flash can provide illumination only where it is needed and allows the flash to work over greater distances.
This feature is typically found only in professional flash units, where the light beam can be zoomed in or out to match the magnification factor of the lens being used. Zooming the beam out allows for more coverage while zooming in concentrates the beam to provide brighter illumination at longer distances.
Apple's patent describes a new kind of flash illuminator that could greatly improve camera ... [+]
Lighting effects
Apple’s flash patent shows it can also provide options such as a spotlight effect or a ‘visual field indicator’ that illuminates only the edges of the scene that the camera is about to capture.
More accurate color, increased brightness, and less heat
Laser-pumped phosphor light sources are capable of very accurate control over light wavelengths, resulting in more accurate color in photos. They are also more energy efficient than a typical LED light, potentially preserving battery life and cutting down on excess heat. This means your iPhone is less likely to get hot when using the flash while recording video and could potentially provide illumination over much greater distances.
What is a laser-pumped phosphor light source?
A laser-pumped phosphor light source works by aiming a laser at a photoluminescent phosphor which, in turn, emits a bright light that can be precisely tuned to achieve the level of quality and brightness required for photography. This light can then be passed through a lens to modify and focus the beam as required.
Key to Apple’s design is the ability to change the direction of the laser beam on the fly. This allows the use of an array of different lenses and light modifiers which can be selected at will, simply by pointing the laser at the relevant section of the phosphor material as required.
As is always the case with patents, there’s no information available on when, or even if, Apple will start to use this new flash technology but you can read full details in patent No. 11658465.
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