Future iPhones may match human eye with new 20-stop camera sensor, patent reveals

Human eyes are ultimate cameras. Now an Apple patent reveals that in future iPhone may end up getting a sensor that will match the light-gathering abilities of human eyes.

In Short

• Apple's new patent reveals a powerful stacked image sensor with 20 stops of dynamic range
• This range can allow the sensor to capture similar to cinema cameras and the human eye
• This tech could allow the camera performance of future iPhones

Apple has just received another patent and this time it is about an image-sensor which could make the future iPhones as powerful as professional cinema cameras. In fact, the patent suggests that it may even match the capabilities of the human eye. The patent is about a staked sensor that is capable of capturing 20-stops of dynamic range, about the same span of light human eyes can perceive.

Well, 20 stops what? “Stops” is a term that is used to denote the light gathering abilities of an image sensor, lens or a camera. More light a sensor can capture, better it can display colours and clarity in image. In other words, more “stops” means more dynamic range. Currently, depending on the amount of light in a scene, most cameras don’t have more than 13-14 stops of dynamic range. And that is for large full-frame cameras. The mobile phone cameras are significantly lower.

In comparison, human eyes are close to 20 stops. This is the reason when you click a photo of a glorious sunset, you never capture the same kind of dynamic light and colours that your eyes are seeing.

Coming back to Apple, the company is working on next-gen image sensors. Its patent, titled “Image Sensor With Stacked Pixels Having High Dynamic Range And Low Noise” was first spotted by Y.M.Cinema Magazine. It details Apple's new sensor, which could capture up to 20 stops of dynamic range. So, what’s special about this new sensor?

Apple’s patent describes a “stacked” sensor architecture, meaning the sensor is built in two layers: one for capturing light (the sensor die) and another for handling the electronics (the logic die).

This method allows Apple to pack more advanced technology into a slimmer camera module, ideal for thin devices such as iPhones and AR/VR headsets.

For context, 20 stops of dynamic range is more than what some of the world’s best cinema cameras can offer, and it’s approaching the capabilities of the human eye. If Apple manages to bring this technology to the iPhone, the smartphone could handle everything from bright sunlight to deep shadows in a single shot, without losing detail or introducing noise.

In the patent, Apple’s design uses something called a LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor), which enables each pixel to store and manage light across three different levels. Imagine taking a photo in a dim room with a bright window. This sensor could handle both extremes simultaneously, storing extra light without losing detail. This contributes significantly to the sensor’s wide dynamic range.

Another impressive side of the sensor is its noise-cancellation capabilities. According to the patent, each pixel has its own built-in noise-sensing circuit, which detects and cancels unwanted noise in real time. As a result, the sensor can capture clearer, cleaner images even in challenging lighting conditions.

If Apple manages to integrate this sensor into future iPhones or even the next Vision Pro, it could mean the users will potentially be able to shoot cinematic HDR videos, capture lifelike colours and fine details, and achieve professional-level results straight from their phones. However, before you get your hopes up, remember: this is just a patent. Apple files numerous patents, and not all of them make it into final products.

- Ends