Refocus Light Field Camera Patent Granted to Apple
Apple was granted a patent for a light field camera with the ability to refocus, or move the focus after the photo was taken. This covers the precise technology Steve Jobs told biographer Walter Isaacson he wanted to use to “reinvent photography.”
He had three things that he wanted to reinvent: the television, textbooks and photography.
The idea behind the patent is completely mind-blowing. How many photos have you taken that are out of focus? Quite a lot right? Imagine if you could with a simple touch on the already taken photo move the focus to where you want it? Pretty cool right. Apparently the patent describes two settings for the camera that has the “light field camera” ability. A high resolution non-refocusable settings, and a low resolution refocusable setting.
We’ve learnt that trying to read too much into Apple patents is like jumping down the rabbit hole, it leads only to confusion and things that may never see the light of day. Apple is known for patenting just about anything. But, seeing as this is so close to what Steve Jobs himself wanted, perhaps seeing this in future iPhones may become a possibility.
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