Electronic device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, comprising: a housing, an opening is provided in a side region of the housing; a camera module, the camera module is assembled in the housing; a light conduction device, the light conduction device is assembled with the housing in a posture-variable manner; when the light conduction device is switched to a first posture, the light conduction device can conduct light on the panel side to the lens of the camera module through the opening, and when the light conduction device is switched to a second posture, the light conduction device can close the opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of terminal technology, and in particular to an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, users have higher and higher requirements for the screen-to-body ratio of electronic devices, making the front camera of electronic devices an important factor affecting the screen-to-body ratio of electronic devices. The front camera is usually set above the screen of the electronic device; and as the screen-to-body ratio increases, the area above the screen of the electronic device becomes smaller and smaller, and some electronic devices even no longer have the "upper area" of the screen, making the front camera solution in the related art impossible to implement. If it is implemented reluctantly, it will occupy the screen display area, destroy the integrity of the screen, and affect the overall aesthetics of the electronic device. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present disclosure provides an electronic device to solve the deficiencies in the related art.

[0004] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device, including:

[0005] A shell, wherein a side area of ​​the shell is provided with an opening;

[0006] A camera module, wherein the camera module is assembled in the housing;

[0007] A light transmission device, which is assembled with the shell in a changeable posture; when the light transmission device is switched to a first posture, the light transmission device can transmit the light on the panel side to the lens of the camera module through the opening, and when the light transmission device is switched to a second posture, the light transmission device can close the opening.

[0008] Optionally, the opening is located in a side area of ​​the top of the shell.

[0009] Optionally, when the camera module is assembled in the shell, the lens of the camera module faces the opening, and the direction of the lens of the camera module is perpendicular to the incident direction of the light on the panel side.

[0010] Optionally, the light transmission device includes a mirror; when the light transmission device is in the first posture, the mirror is between the incident direction of the light on the panel side and the lens direction of the camera module.

[0011] Optionally, the light conduction device includes a right-angle prism; when the light conduction device is in the first posture, the inclined surface of the right-angle prism faces between the incident direction of the light on the panel side and the lens direction of the camera module, so as to conduct the light on the panel side to the lens of the camera module.

[0012] Optionally, the right-angle prism includes an isosceles right-angle prism.

[0013] Optionally, it further includes:

[0014] A cover body, which is rotatably connected to the housing to open or close the opening;

[0015] Wherein, the light conduction device is assembled on the bottom surface of the cover body; when the cover body is opened outwards, the light conduction device switches to the first posture, and when the cover body closes the opening, the light conduction device can be switched to the second posture.

[0016] Optionally, a protrusion is provided on the side edge of the cover body, and a jack for cooperating with the protrusion is provided on the inner edge of the opening; wherein, the cover body realizes relative rotation with the housing through the cooperation between the protrusion and the jack, so as to switch the posture of the light conduction device.

[0017] Optionally, it further includes:

[0018] A driving device, which is used to drive the light conduction device to realize posture switching.

[0019] Optionally, it further includes:

[0020] A control device, which is connected to the driving device and is used to send a first posture control command to the driving device when receiving a camera enabling instruction, so that the driving device drives the light conduction device to the first posture, and sends a second posture control command to the driving device when receiving a camera closing instruction, so that the driving device drives the light conduction device to the second posture.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory, and cannot limit the present disclosure. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] The accompanying drawings here are incorporated into the specification and constitute a part of this specification, showing the embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, and are used together with the specification to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 1 It is an exploded structural schematic diagram of an electronic device shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a schematic perspective view of a housing shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a schematic perspective view of a light conduction device shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the attitude switching of a light conduction device shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] Figure 5 It is a schematic view of the panel side when a light conduction device is in a first attitude shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0028] Figure 6 It is a schematic view of the backplane side when a light conduction device is in a first attitude shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] Figure 7 It is along an Figure 6 shown cross-sectional view taken along the B-B direction.

[0030] Figure 8 It is a schematic view of the panel side when a light conduction device is in a second attitude shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0031] Figure 9 It is a schematic view of the backplane side when a light conduction device is in a second attitude shown according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0032] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of driving and controlling a light conduction device shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed implementation manners

[0033] Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, and examples thereof are shown in the drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The implementation manners described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementation manners consistent with the present application. On the contrary, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0034] The terms used in this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The singular forms "a", "the", and "said" used in this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0035] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used in this application to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the same type of information from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, the first information may also be referred to as the second information, and similarly, the second information may also be referred to as the first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when" or "while" or "in response to a determination".

[0036] Figure 1 is an exploded structural schematic diagram of an electronic device shown according to an exemplary embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, the electronic device may include: a housing 1, a screen module 2, a camera module 3, a light conduction device 4, and other structures. An accommodation space is formed inside the housing 1, which can be used to assemble the camera module 3 or other function modules not mentioned.

[0037] In Figure 1 the shown embodiment, the housing 1 includes a side frame 11 and a back plate 12; the side frame 11 may include a left side frame 111, a right side frame 112, a top side frame 113, and a bottom side frame (not shown in the figure), etc., to form the side structure of the electronic device. The back plate 12 is located on the back of the housing 1 (i.e., Figure 1 the left side shown), while the front of the housing 1 (i.e., Figure 1 the right side shown) is open so that the housing 1 can be assembled in cooperation with the screen module 2. Among them, in one embodiment, the back plate 12 and the side frame 11 may be an integral structure; in another embodiment, the back plate 12 and the side frame 11 may be a split structure so that the side frame 11 and the back plate 12 are assembled in cooperation to form the housing 1.

[0038] In one embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, an opening 1130 may be provided on the top side frame 113; in other embodiments, the opening 1130 may be provided in other side regions of the side frame 11 except the top side frame 113, such as the left side frame 111, the right side frame 112, or the bottom side frame, etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this.

[0039] Figure 2It is a schematic perspective view of a housing shown according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 2 shown, the opening 1130 can disconnect the top side frame 113 of the side frame 11. Of course, in other embodiments, the opening 1130 can be only a partial absence on the top side frame 113, avoiding the disconnection of the top side frame 113, so that the side frame 11 maintains better integrity and structural strength.

[0040] Figure 3 It is a schematic perspective view of a light conduction device shown according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 3 shown, the light conduction structure 4 can be installed on the cover body 5, so that the light conduction structure 4 can move synchronously with the cover body 5, thereby realizing the attitude switching of the light conduction structure 4 through the cover body 5.

[0041] In one embodiment, the side edge of the cover body 5 can include as Figure 3 shown a protrusion 50, and the side edge of the opening 1130 can be provided with a jack 1131 as Figure 2 shown. The protrusion 50 can be inserted into the jack 1131, so that the relative rotation between the cover body 5 and the housing 1 can be realized through the mutual cooperation between the protrusion 50 and the jack 1131; at the same time, since the light conduction device 4 is assembled on the cover body 3, the light conduction device 4 can be driven by the cover body 5 to realize the relative rotation between the light conduction device 4 and the housing 1.

[0042] In other embodiments, the light conduction device 4 can also realize the relative rotation with the housing 1 in other ways, and does not necessarily need to be based on the cover body 5; in other words, the cover body 5 is not an essential structure in the technical solution of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the attitude switching of a light conduction device shown according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 4 shown, the light conduction device 4 can be switched between at least two attitudes, including: Figure 4 The light conduction device 4 in the first attitude is drawn by a dotted line, at this time the cover body 5 is in an open state for the opening 1130, and the light conduction device 4 is located outside the housing 1; Figure 4 The light conduction device 4 in the second attitude is drawn by a solid line, at this time the cover body 5 can close the opening 1130, and the light conduction device 4 is located inside the housing 1.

[0044] Of course, in other embodiments, the light conduction device 4 does not necessarily achieve attitude switching by rotation. For example, other arbitrary movement methods such as telescoping and translation can be applied to achieve the relative movement between the light conduction device 4 and the housing 1, so as to achieve the attitude switching of the light conduction device 4. The present disclosure does not limit this.

[0045] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the panel side when a light conduction device is in a first attitude according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 5 shown, when the light conduction device 4 is in the first attitude, the camera module 3 is located inside the housing 1, and the light conduction device 4 extends out from inside the housing 1 to conduct the light on the panel side to the camera module 3, so as to implement the camera module 3 as a front camera. However, since the light conduction device 4, the camera module 3, etc. do not occupy any space of the screen module 2, it is helpful to obtain the largest possible screen-to-body ratio on the electronic device, and even form a full-screen (that is, the panel side of the electronic device is completely or substantially completely covered by the display area of the screen module 2).

[0046] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the back panel side when a light conduction device is in a first attitude according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 6 shown, when the light conduction device 4 is in the first attitude, the cover 5 is lifted to open the opening 1130, so that the light conduction device 4 can be moved out from inside the housing 1 to receive and conduct the light on the panel side.

[0047] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along the Figure 6 shown A-A direction according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 7 shown, after the light conduction device 4 is moved out from inside the housing 1, the light on the panel side can be projected onto the light conduction device 4. For example, the incident direction of the light on the panel side is Figure 7 shown from right to left; under the action of the light conduction device 4, the conduction direction of the light on the panel side can be changed, so that the light on the panel side changes from "from right to left" to "from top to bottom", so that the light on the panel side finally passes through the opening 1130 and is projected onto the lens of the camera module 3, so that the camera module 3 can use the light on the panel side to complete the shooting operation.

[0048] Then, by orienting the lens of the camera module 3 inside the housing 1 (e.g., from bottom to top) towards the opening 1130, even if there is no opening on the screen module 2 adapted to the camera module 3 (in the related art, the light on the panel side directly passes through the opening and shines on the lens of the camera module 3), the light on the panel side can still be collected through the light conduction device 4, and the camera module 3 is prompted to complete the shooting of the panel side, that is, the camera module 3 can achieve the function of the "front camera" in the related art.

[0049] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the panel side when a light conduction device is in a second posture shown according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 8 shown, when the light conduction device 4 is in the second posture, the light conduction device 4, the camera module 3, etc. are all located inside the housing 1. When the user views from Figure 8 the panel side shown, only the screen module 2, etc. can be seen, that is, the light conduction device 4, the camera module 3, etc. do not occupy any space of the screen module 2, which helps to obtain as large a screen-to-body ratio as possible and even form a full-screen.

[0050] Figure 9 It is a schematic diagram of the back panel side when a light conduction device is in a second posture shown according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 9 shown, when the light conduction device 4 is in the second posture, the cover body 5 can close the opening 1130; wherein, the cover body 5 can be adapted to the specification of the opening 1130, so that the cover body 5 can exactly fill the gap formed by the opening 1130 on the side frame 11, so that the side frame 11 can be visually more integrated to ensure the overall aesthetic appearance of the electronic device.

[0051] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the light conduction device 4 can adopt any structure as long as it can implement the above embodiments such as Figure 7 etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this; for example:

[0052] In one embodiment, the light conduction device 4 can include a mirror. When the light conduction device 4 is in the first posture, as Figure 7 shown, the mirror can face between the incident direction of the light on the panel side (in a horizontal direction, e.g., from right to left) and the lens direction of the camera module 3 (in a vertical direction, e.g., from bottom to top). For example, the mirror can form a 45° angle with the above incident direction and lens direction respectively, so that the light on the panel side can be conducted to the lens of the camera module 3 by the mirror.

[0053] In another embodiment, the light conduction device 4 can include a right-angle prism, such as an isosceles right-angle prism, etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this; when the light conduction device 4 is in the first posture, asFigure 7 As shown, between the inclined surface of the right-angle prism facing the incident direction of the light on the panel side and the lens of the camera module 13, for example, the inclined surface can form an angle of 45° with the above-mentioned incident direction and lens direction respectively, so as to conduct the light on the panel side to the lens of the camera module 3.

[0054] In other embodiments, the right-angle prism can also adopt other assembly methods, and it is not necessarily to orient the inclined surface towards the light on the panel side. For example, the first right-angle surface of the right-angle prism can also be oriented towards the light on the panel side, so that the light on the panel side can enter the right-angle prism through the first right-angle surface, and then be reflected by the inclined surface to the second right-angle surface, and exit from the second right-angle surface to the lens of the camera module 3.

[0055] In one embodiment, the user can manually apply a force to the light conduction device 4, the cover body 5 (or other structures that can move synchronously with the light conduction device 4) to realize the attitude switching of the light conduction device 4. For example, the user can manually lift the cover body 5 to switch the light conduction device 4 to the first attitude, or the user can manually cover the cover body 5 to switch the light conduction device 4 to the second attitude.

[0056] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the drive control of a light conduction device according to an exemplary embodiment. As Figure 10 shown, the electronic device can include a drive device 6 such as a servo motor. The drive device 6 can drive the light conduction device 4 to realize attitude switching. For example, the drive device 6 can directly drive the light conduction device 4 to make the light conduction device 4 realize movement and attitude switching; or when the light conduction device 4 can move synchronously with other structures such as the cover body 5, the drive device 6 can also drive other structures such as the cover body 5 to drive the light conduction device 4 to realize movement and attitude switching.

[0057] The present disclosure can control the drive device 6 in various ways. In one embodiment, the electronic device can include, for example, Figure 10The control device 7 shown, for example, the control device 7 may include a CPU inside the electronic device, etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this. The control device 7 may be connected to the driving device 6. The control device 7 may send a first attitude control command to the driving device 6 when receiving a front camera enabling instruction (such as a user triggering a physical button on the electronic device, enabling a software function on the electronic device, etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this), so that the driving device 6 drives the light conduction device 4 to a first attitude, and the control device 7 may send a second attitude control command to the driving device 6 when receiving a camera closing instruction (such as a user triggering a physical button on the electronic device, enabling a software function on the electronic device, etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this), so that the driving device 6 drives the light conduction device 4 to a second attitude.

[0058] In other embodiments, the driving device 6 may also be controlled in other ways. For example, a function button (physical button or virtual button) for the driving device 6 may be configured on the electronic device, and the user may control the driving logic of the driving device 6 by triggering the function button to drive the light conduction device 4 to achieve attitude switching.

[0059] In summary, by improving the structure of the electronic device, such as by adopting structures such as the light conduction device, the present disclosure enables the camera module to implement the imaging function of the front camera while avoiding occupying the panel space of the screen module, which helps to increase the screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device and even achieve a full-screen display.

[0060] Those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other embodiments of the present disclosure after considering the specification and practicing the disclosure herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure that follow the general principles of the present disclosure and include known common knowledge or conventional technical means in the technical field not disclosed by the present disclosure. The specification and embodiments are only to be regarded as exemplary, and the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure are pointed out by the following claims.

[0061] It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the exact structures described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present disclosure is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic device, characterized in that, Comprising: A housing, with an opening provided in the side region of the housing; A camera module, which is assembled within the housing; A light conduction device, which is assembled with the housing in a manner that allows its posture to be variable; when the light conduction device switches to the first posture, the light conduction device can conduct the light on the panel side through the opening to the lens of the camera module, and when the light conduction device switches to the second posture, the light conduction device can close the opening; wherein, the light conduction device being assembled with the housing in a manner that allows its posture to be variable includes: the light conduction device is assembled on a cover body, such that the light conduction device, driven by the cover body, realizes relative rotation between the light conduction device and the housing; the panel side is the screen module side; A cover body, which is rotatably connected to the housing to open or close the opening; wherein, the light conduction device is assembled on the bottom surface of the cover body; when the cover body is opened outwards, the light conduction device switches to the first posture, and when the cover body closes the opening, the light conduction device can be switched to the second posture.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening is located in the side region at the top of the housing.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein When the camera module is assembled within the housing, the lens of the camera module faces the opening, and the direction of the lens of the camera module is perpendicular to the incident direction of the light on the panel side.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that The light conduction device includes a mirror surface; when the light conduction device is in the first posture, the mirror surface faces between the incident direction of the light on the panel side and the direction of the lens of the camera module.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein The light conduction device includes a right-angle prism; when the light conduction device is in the first posture, the inclined surface of the right-angle prism faces between the incident direction of the light on the panel side and the direction of the lens of the camera module to conduct the light on the panel side to the lens of the camera module.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, characterized in that The right-angle prism includes an isosceles right-angle prism.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A protrusion is provided on the side edge of the cover body, and a jack for mating with the protrusion is provided on the inner edge of the opening; wherein, the cover body realizes relative rotation with the housing through the cooperation between the protrusion and the jack to switch the posture of the light conduction device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further comprising: A driving device, which is used to drive the light conduction device to realize posture switching.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein Further comprising: A control device, which is connected to the driving device and is used to send a first posture control command to the driving device when receiving a camera enabling instruction, so that the driving device drives the light conduction device to the first posture, and send a second posture control command to the driving device when receiving a camera closing instruction, so that the driving device drives the light conduction device to the second posture.

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