Apparatus and method to maximize the display area of a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9998642-B2
Application number	US-201715650663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

The technology disclosed here maximizes the size of the display area associated with the mobile device by various camera placement. In one embodiment, the camera is placed inside the mobile device, and can pop outside the mobile device when the camera is activated. When the camera is inactive the camera retracts inside the mobile device, and becomes unnoticeable to the user. In another embodiment, the camera is integrated into the mobile device display as a camera icon. The integrated camera serves two purposes: to record pictures, and to act as a camera icon, that when selected activates the camera. By removing the camera from the front side of the mobile device, or by integrating the camera into the display screen of the mobile device, the size of the mobile device display screen can be increased.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile device, comprising:
an outer casing associated with the mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces;
a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and
the camera movably disposed inside the camera port and operable to detach from the camera port and to align with the outer casing when retracted within the mobile device, wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device, the camera comprising a plurality of lenses, the camera operable to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device when the camera is active, the camera further comprising:
a first aperture;
a second aperture;
a plurality of photo sensors;
a light deflector associated with the first aperture, the second aperture, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light deflector changing a direction of a light beam, the light deflector operable to assume a first position, and a second position, the first position deflecting a light beam associated with the first aperture to a third lens, and the second position deflecting a light beam associated with the second aperture to the third lens;
the third lens disposed between the plurality of photo sensors and the light deflector; and
a light guide connecting the apertures, the light deflector, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light guide transmitting a beam of light between the apertures and the plurality of photo sensors.

2. A mobile device, comprising:
an outer casing associated with the mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces;
a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and
the camera movably disposed inside the camera port comprising an aperture, the camera operable,
when the camera is inactive, to retract inside the camera port,
the camera operable,
when the camera is active, to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device, and to position the aperture to receive light unobstructed by the mobile device, and
the camera operable to detach from the camera port and to align with the outer casing when retracted within the mobile device; wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device.

3. The mobile device of claim 2 , the camera comprising:
a first aperture;
a second aperture;
a plurality of photo sensors; and
a light deflector associated with the first aperture, the second aperture, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light deflector changing a direction of a light beam, the light deflector operable to assume a first position, and a second position, the first position deflecting a light beam associated with the first aperture to the plurality of photo sensors associated with the camera, and the second position deflecting a light beam associated with the second aperture to the plurality of photo sensors associated with the camera.

4. The mobile device of claim 3 , the first aperture in the second aperture comprising a first lens and a second lens, respectively.

5. The mobile device of claim 4 , the first lens and the second lens comprising a wide angle lens receiving light up to 180° around the wide angle lens.

6. The mobile device of claim 3 , the camera further comprising:
a lens disposed between the plurality of photo sensors and the light deflector; and
a light guide connecting the apertures, the light deflector, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light guide transmitting a beam of light between the apertures and the lens.

7. The mobile device of claim 3 , the camera comprising a micro-electromechanical systems device operable to actuate the light deflector.

8. The mobile device of claim 3 , the light deflector comprising a mirror or a prism.

9. The mobile device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second camera associated with the mobile device, the second camera displaced a short distance from the camera, the second camera operable to record a second image corresponding to a first image captured by the camera; and
a processor coupled to the second camera and the camera, the processor operable to create stereoscopic images based on the first image and the second image.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 , the second camera comprising a front facing camera associated with the mobile device.

11. The mobile device of claim 2 , the aperture comprising a folded optical zoom lens.

12. The mobile device of claim 2 , the camera port comprising a subscriber identity module card, or a memory card.

13. The mobile device of claim 2 , the camera comprising an articulated fiber optic camera, the articulated fiber optic camera operable to be steered in a plurality of directions.

14. The mobile device of claim 2 , the camera operable to be activated via any of a software associated with the mobile device, a dedicated button associated with the mobile device, a voice activation, a gesture, and a power button associated with the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 2 , the camera further comprising a flash.

16. A method comprising:
providing an outer casing associated with a mobile device, the outer casing comprising a plurality of surfaces;
providing a camera port defined in the outer casing to house a camera movably disposed inside the camera port; and
providing the camera detachably disposed inside the camera port, the camera comprising an aperture, the camera operable,
when the camera is inactive, to retract inside the camera port, and to align with each surface in the plurality of surfaces associated with the outer casing,
the camera operable,
when the camera is active, to protrude from the outer casing associated with the mobile device, and to position the aperture to receive light unobstructed by the mobile device, and
wherein the camera port closes when the camera is detached from the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
providing a first aperture;
providing a second aperture;
providing a plurality of photo sensors;
providing a light deflector associated with the first aperture, the second aperture, and to the plurality of photo sensors; and
configuring the light deflector to change a direction of a light beam, the light deflector configured to assume a first position, and a second position, the first position deflecting a light beam associated with the first aperture to the plurality of photo sensors associated with the camera, and the second position deflecting a light beam associated with the second aperture to the plurality of photo sensors associated with the camera.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture comprise a first lens and a second lens, respectively.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first lens and the second lens comprise a wide angle lens receiving light up to 180° around the wide angle lens.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
providing a lens disposed between the plurality of photo sensors and the light deflector; and
configuring a light guide to transmit a beam of light between the apertures and the lens, the light guide connecting the apertures, the light deflector, and the plurality of photo sensors, the light guide operable.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the camera comprises a micro-electromechanical systems device operable to actuate the light deflector.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein

Assignees

• Essential Products Inc

Inventors

• Evans V David John
• Jiang Xinrui
• Rubin Andrew E
• Hershenson Matthew
• Miao Xiaoyu

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N5/2257

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic