In late July 2024 a rumor from The Information tech site (via MacRumors) claimed that Apple's iPhone 17 would include a new mechanical aperture. Today the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application of Apple's that relates to camera modules that include mechanical iris assemblies, and more specifically mechanical iris assemblies that include voice coil actuators.

In Apple's patent background they note that cameras continue to be an important feature of consumer electronics devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. While larger cameras, such as single-lens reflex cameras (“SLR cameras”), typically utilize a mechanical iris to controllably adjust the aperture stop of the camera, many cameras in consumer electronics devices do not have adjustable apertures. Space is at a premium in consumer electronics devices, and it may be difficult to incorporate mechanical iris assemblies within the size and space constraints of such a device. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide camera modules with compact mechanical iris assemblies.

Camera Modules With Mechanical Iris Assemblies

Apple's patent relates to mechanical iris assemblies, as well as cameras and devices incorporating these mechanical iris assemblies. In some embodiments, a camera has an optical assembly with an optical axis, where the optical assembly includes a lens module, a mechanical iris assembly, and a controller.

The mechanical iris assembly includes a housing, a set of blade elements, a rotor plate, an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a magnet that is fixed relative to the rotor plate, a first coil, and a second coil, such that the first coil and the second coil are positioned in a magnetic field of the magnet.

The controller is configured to concurrently drive current through the first coil and the second coil in opposite directions to rotate the rotor plate relative to the housing. Additionally, the mechanical iris assembly is configured such that rotation of the rotor plate relative to the housing rotates the set of blade elements relative to the housing.

In some of these instances, the mechanical iris assembly comprises a set of ball bearings and a preloading plate formed from a ferritic material. Additionally or alternatively, the housing includes a front housing element and a rear housing element, such that the rear housing element comprises a sidewall that defines a cavity and the lens barrel extends at least partially into the cavity. In some of these variation, the rotor plate circumferentially surrounds the sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the magnet has a magnetization direction that is parallel to the optical axis.

Other embodiments are directed to a camera includes an optical assembly that has an optical axis and includes a lens module and a mechanical iris assembly. The mechanical iris assembly includes a housing, a set of blade elements a rotor plate, and an actuator assembly, wherein the actuator assembly is configured to rotate the rotor plate relative to the housing, and the mechanical iris assembly is configured such that rotation of the rotor plate relative to the housing rotates the set of blade elements relative to the housing. The actuator assembly includes at least one magnet and a set of coils, each of which has an arcuate shape.

For full details, review Apple's patent application 20250044666. The lead inventor is Aurélien Hubert, Director of Camera Mechanical Design.

Will this be coming to the iPhone 17 as rumors suggest? Only time will tell.