Apple has been granted a patent for a wearable camera that seeks to compete with GoPro’s rugged portable action cameras.
Patently Apple reports that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday granted 34 patents to the Cupertino including one that is related to a new digital-camera system that can be attached to a helmet, surfboard or scuba mask and operated by a remote control. The patent of the new camera technology was applied by Apple way back in 2012.
With the newly granted patent Apple could make products that improves on weaknesses that GoPro’s action cameras suffers from such as a susceptibility to vibration. GoPro’s action cameras are popular for filming mountain climbing, deep-sea diving and skateboard tricks. However, the Cupertino has not announced any plans for the patent yet.
As usual, the patent award doesn’t necessarily mean the Cupertino will produce a wearable camera to compete with rival GoPro. Apple files for hundreds of patents every year, but only a fraction of the technology in patent filings ever sees the light of day in commercial products.
The shares of the action-camera maker GoPro fell more than 12 percent after the reports of Apple’s new patents surfaced. The stock dropped 13 percent to $49.81 on Tuesday.
Both Apple and GoPro declined to comment.
