Apple was granted patent number 11,172,101 on USPTO for a multifunction accessory case. The latter describes a case for AirPods and AirPods Pro that includes, among other things, an integrated camera.

About the patent

In the patent filing, Apple notes that as portable devices (wearables) gain greater connectivity and enhanced capabilities, users are choosing to respond primarily directly with for communications and connectivity by leaving their phones and/or or other mobile devices behind them for convenience. However, the tech giant notes that while some modern handheld devices allow cellular communication, using a handheld device's microphone and speaker for phone calls may provide a "less optimal" experience. Thus, users often carry wireless earphones with them to listen to music for running, biking, or simply performing errands or daily activities.

Digital cameras integrated into a handheld device can have drawbacks due to size and/or usability constraints because the handheld device can be, for example, attached to a user's wrist or in a user's ear. 'an user. Apple's idea is to have a case with a built-in camera. But the firm does not explain where the photos would be stored, but mentions a memory all the same.

Excerpt from the patent

Here is the summary of Apple's patent on the integration of a camera in an AirPods case:

Who finds this interesting for possible AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4?