Over the years, cameras of iPhones have undergone various changes and modifications from superior lenses to several software-enabled technical maneuvers like image stabilization. Nevertheless, iPhone cameras lacked one feature - an appropriate optical zoom like one found in DSLRs. However, a latest patent by Apple Inc. could change this in future iPhones.

IB Times reports that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently granted a patent to Apple, which was published on Tuesday, titled "Digital Camera with Light Splitter," and reveals how the next iPhone may well use a mirror to reflect light and herald a zoom lens installed on the iPhone's horizontal axis. The purported light splitter cube will split the light into three color constituents and send each one into an individual image sensor.

According to AppleInsider, the latest invention may possibly offer augmented color accuracy, and, at the same time, do away with the need for color processing, something common in conventional camera sensors that have an array of red green and blue pixels.

While iPhones are getting thinner, it is becoming increasingly difficult to incorporate more camera features on the smartphone, primarily owing to the thickness of a quality camera. In recent times, this problem was witnessed in the case of the optical image-stabilizer, which was only incorporated into the somewhat thicker iPhone 6 Plus. Positioning the assembly in a horizontal position, helped to provide some additional space to incorporate the camera features.

While Apple Inc. has yet to make an official announcement regarding its next iPhone, it is expected that the upcoming smartphone will retain a shape similar to the iPhone 6, while incorporating new features like Force Touch, which has been introduced with the Apple Watch. The latest patent gives some credence to the rumors that first surfaced in January hinting that the company is seeking to use a superior camera on its next smartphone.

As of now, it is not known if or when the Cupertino-based tech titan actually plans to implement the invention in its future devices. Apple has been granted several patents in the past, but many of them have not been applied at all.

On Sept. 9, 2011, Apple filed the patent. The company has credited Apple core design camera design director Steven Webster and optical engineer Ning Chan for the invention.