Oppo Patented A Detachable Camera Module For Smartphones

Dhir Acharya - Dec 09, 2020

Famous for innovative camera design, Oppo seems to have come up with a new idea by patenting a detachable camera module for smartphones.

Oppo has set itself from other competitors in the smartphone market for its relentless work on innovating phone cameras. In the past, its products showcased motorized pop-up cameras and under-display cameras. The phone maker was also spotted working on a rollable screen among other form factors and new mobile technologies. And now, it’s not a surprise to see the company envision a new handset with detachable cameras, which means the module has cameras that can be removed or attached anytime.

The news surfaced after a patent was spotted on WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office), according to 91Mobiles. The patent outlines a futuristic smartphone that Oppo has thought of, which has a detachable rectangular selfie camera module with a USC-C connector.

This is a new approach that helps the company make full-display smartphones. Previously, the company has applied different methods to bring a completely full screen to the phone, including the famous pop-up camera mechanism. A detachable module is the next innovative approach though it’s a complicated one.

As shown in the patent, the camera module will feature two lenses as well as a pill-shaped cutout to house the LED flash. The module also sports a USB Type-C pin that can be inserted into the USB-C port on the phone. The USB-C connector is reversible, so it doesn’t matter how you insert it into the port. In addition, this means the camera module can be inserted so that the cameras are on the same side as the screen.

The connector will be able to bend at either 90 or 180 degrees, which means the camera modules can capture videos and photos from more than one angle. However, to take selfies, the camera app will need redesigning to keep the camera angle upright. Or the phone will be inverted upside down so that the camera module stays atop, Oppo didn’t provide further detail on how the phone will work.

In the filing, the camera module is described to feature Bluetooth, WiFi, as well as NFC for remote connection. It will also house a rechargeable battery that users can charge many times through the USB-C port and using the phone’s battery.