Apple is Working on a Rear-Facing 3D Sensor for Future Generation iPhones [Report]

Apple is working on a rear-facing 3D sensor for future generation iPhones, according to a new Bloomberg report. A 3D sensor on the back of the iPhone would be helpful in augmented reality applications.

Apple is evaluating a different technology from the one it currently uses in the TrueDepth sensor system on the front of the iPhone X, the people said. The existing system relies on a structured-light technique that projects a pattern of 30,000 laser dots onto a user’s face and measures the distortion to generate an accurate 3-D image for authentication. The planned rear-facing sensor would instead use a time-of-flight approach that calculates the time it takes for a laser to bounce off surrounding objects to create a three-dimensional picture of the environment.

Discussions have already begun with prospective suppliers of the new system. Infineon, Sony, STMicroelectronics, and Panasonic make time-of-flight sensors. However, Bloomberg cautions that testing of the technology is in its initial stages and Apple's plans could change.


If you're interested in seeing some of the things that can be done with AR, check out MadeWithARKit.

You can follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for updates.

Read More