SAN MATEO, Calif. (BRAIN) — GoPro has patented a cube-like camera housing that could reshape how its action cameras look.
On Tuesday, the company received a patent (pdf) describing the new housing as holding a square camera with a "substantially" square profile.
The square case allows several ways for the camera to be positioned within the case. Users can easily reach various buttons that activate the camera or add features like a microphone, the patent filing said.
The new design was first reported by re/code.net, a technology website.
Polaroid recently introduced The Cube, a 1.25-inch, square-sided action-cam that retails for $100. Recode.net speculated that the square GoPro case could herald the introduction of a super-compact, low cost camera that could expand GoPro's potential market. However, the company did not respond to queries about its plans for the patent, and it's worth noting that GoPro's pattern has been to make its camera models smaller — but no less expensive — with each generation.
The California company went public last June. It reported revenue of $1.4 billion in 2014 after selling more than 5.2 million cameras. The company has approximately 970 employees including 415 hardware and software engineers, according to its most recent 10K filed with the Security and Exchange Commission.
"We are investing to scale GoPro as a media company and to develop new licensing and software sales opportunities," the 10K filing said.
The company's GoPro Channel has partnered with platforms like Xbox Live and Virgin America.
