Check out this Apple patent for refractive lenses
(iMore iPhone)

A big boost for the iPhone camera? What you need to know Apple patent reveals potential tech behind refractive lenses. Revolves around prism to angle light 90 degrees into a camera sensor. Could allow sensor to be placed further from lens, reducing form factor of camera housing and the iPheon as a whole. Two Apple patents published today have revealed how Apple could use refractive lenses to improve picture quality in its cameras whilst potentially reducing the size of the camera bump on the back of Phone, and perhaps the thickness of the device overall. As reported by AppleInsider, two patents were published today, the first titled `Folded lens system with five refractive lenses`, the second `with three refractive lenses`. The description for the patents states: The advent of small, mobile multipurpose devices such as smartphones and tablet or pad devices has resulted in a need for high-resolution, small form factor cameras for integration in the devices. However, due to lim...