Samsung Electronics has apparently filed a new patent application with South Korea’s KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service), revealing that the manufacturer is working on creating its own dual-camera setup for mobile devices. The dual sensor is described as a “camera module including multi-lens and electronic device” but the document is in Korean and certain details may have been lost in translation. Nevertheless, the dual-camera was reportedly designed to be very thin and proficient in low light conditions, and apparently, the module is capable of 3D photography with distances and dimensions included.
As exciting as a dual-camera module from Samsung Electronics might sound, it should be noted that patent applications don’t always bear fruit to the end users. In other words, there are numerous patented technologies that have yet to be put into practice, and the dual-camera sensor at hand comes with the same caveat, as it may or may not see the light of day in a commercially available device. Nevertheless, an increasing number of smartphone manufacturers seem to be on board with the dual-camera concept, and Samsung has yet to adopt a dual-camera setup for any of its smartphones. Judging by recent images leaked in the wild, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will also have a single rear-facing sensor so needless to say, the patent application at hand doesn’t seem to be related to the company’s upcoming premium mobile device. However, it’s evident that the company is at least considering the possibility of building a dual-camera smartphone in the future.
Of course, there is more to the idea of Samsung building a dual-camera setup than the recent patent application at hand. In January 2017, a different dual-camera setup was submitted by Samsung for patenting in South Korea, and Samsung Venture Investment revealed that the conglomerate invested in dual-camera manufacturer Core Photonics. As for the benefits of having a dual-camera setup on a smartphone, there are plenty and depending on the manufacturer’s approach to the technology, a dual-camera setup can provide new imaging tools including bokeh modes, post-processing effects, and 3D imaging. Reportedly the more recent patent application seems to put an accent on improved low-light and 3D photography, as well as the package’s small dimensions compared to other dual-camera sensors currently on the market.
