Apple patent application describes bayonet lens mount for the iPhone

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application today from Apple that describes a method of attaching a lens to an electronic device, including the iPhone. The method would allow for the quick removal and attachment of a variety of lenses to the iPhone camera. The method relies on the use of a bayonet attachment mechanism, which uses tabs to secure an item like a lens to the base of a camera. With a bayonet design, a lens with several tabs are fitted into the recesses on a camera base and then turned slightly to secure the two pieces together. In Apple’s example, the bayonet may be used to secure and external lens to the back of an electronic device like an iPhone. The attachment mechanisms may be configured to couple accessory devices, such as lens devices to an electronic device. For example, a lens may be coupled to the exterior of an electronic device with first and second attachment mechanisms. Though there are a wide variety of lens attachments for the iPhone, none of the existing solution use this bayonet design. Most solutions use a magnets, cases or other less secure solution to attach a lens to the back of an iPhone. The method described by Apple has the advantage of being extremely secure, but it does require significant changes to the design of the iPhone itself. This bayonet patent is one of several lens attachment mechanisms explored by Apple in the past few years. A magnetic mechanism was described in a patent granted to Apple in January. An earlier patent from 2012 explores the use of a removable back panel as a way of swapping out lenses. Continue reading →

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