A new dimension: Samsung Galaxy S4 may have 3D camera

3D hasn't really taken off in TVs, but Samsung may be inclined to give it a try in the Galaxy S4.

The Korean electronics giant has filed for a trademark for "2D 3D Movie & Still," and it also filed for a patent related to a panoramic imaging lens and panoramic imaging system.

Samsung noted in its trademark filing that the application covers software for smartphones, software for tablets, digital cameras, USB flash drives, mobile telephones, portable media players, portable computers, rechargeable batteries, smartphones, tablets, wireless headsets, and lenses for cameras. That's a pretty extensive list.

Of course, there's no guarantee the 3D still and video camera features will show up in the Galaxy S4, but it seems plausible given the timing. Samsung is hosting an event to announce the phone Thursday in New York City.

Follow Samsung Unpacked live with CNET on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT.

Other rumors swirling around the Galaxy S4 are that it may come with an eight-core Exynos processor, a separate eight-core graphics processing unit, a 4.99-inch Super Amoled display, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video capability, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and the latest version of Android, known as 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. There's also speculation the Galaxy S4 will offer eye-tracking capabilities.

As for Samsung's patent filing for a panoramic imaging lens, Samsung notes its would include a first lens piece and a second lens piece. The panoramic imaging lens "realizes reduced complexity and cost of manufacturing, and stray rays causing flare or ghost phenomenon are suppressed by cutting a side of the second lens piece, thereby improving image quality."

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in recent weeks also has published Samsung trademark applications for the "Samsung Galaxy Fonblet," and "Galaxy S Active."

(Via Patently Apple)