Yongnuo has a patent for a new modular, mobile mirrorless camera system with interchangeable lens modules (similar to their exiting YN450 camera):
"According to the patent, the future camera is not simply a conventional body with interchangeable lenses that attach via a bayonet mount. Instead, it splits into two parts: a removable ‘mobile terminal’ comprising a specialised smartphone containing a bare image sensor and a touchscreen, all of which slides into an ‘external lens assembly’ holding the lens, hand grip and some form of locking mechanism.
Nowadays, mobile terminals such as smartphones have a photographing function. Time has shown that the lenses of these mobile devices cannot meet the needs of demanding users. As a result, external smartphone lens modules have appeared on the market.
However, these external lenses are often impractical because they are insecurely clamped to the mobile device and can easily become detached. The interface between the external lens and the device is also imprecise, due to the nature of the clamping mechanisms used, resulting in inferior image quality. Alternative lens attachment solutions exist, but are tricky to install and inconvenient to use. To overcome these limitations, the present invention provides an external lens assembly, mobile terminal and photographing apparatus that are convenient to use and fit together precisely."
