It’s basically a low-resolution B&W (or perhaps grayscale) LCD projector. Hardly revolutionary.
Yeah, that's exactly what I meant in my original suggestion of an LCD mounted in front of the flash. Basically a grayscale LCD projector without a lens. Or maybe with a lens. Beats me, I'm not an optics guy (got a C in that class).
Although from the original article it would appear that Apple is taking the opposite approach. The article suggests an array of light sources (LEDs) that can be controlled individually rather than a single light source with an array of masks (LCDs) in front of it.
And no, I haven't patented it. And no, I couldn't give a crap about patenting it. And unless someone else has already filed on this variation then I hereby declare it part of the prior art and NOBODY can patent it. Not that it would pass the non-obvious test anyway. Not that that's a requirement to patent anything anymore. Not that any of this would stop me from building it if I wanted to even if someone else already patented it because it's obviously so obvious that even I thought of it. Not that that would stop some asshole at Apple from suing me. Obviously. Have a nice day, get off my lawn, etc.