Camera electronic switch control circuit and control method

Abstract

The invention discloses a camera electronic switch control circuit and method, and the circuit comprises a control module, a mechanical switch module, a power protection module and a camera controller, and the control module is used for inputting a first control signal; the mechanical switch module is used for inputting a second control signal; the power protection module is used for generating a target control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, the target control signal is used for controlling the camera controller to be turned on or turned off, dual operations of software control and mechanical switch are combined, and the power supply state of the camera is indirectly controlled by controlling the on and off of the N-MOSFET, so that the power supply state of the camera is controlled. After the camera is selected to be started through software, the working state of the camera can be further managed through an external mechanical switch, manual rapid control is achieved, the use flexibility and privacy safety of the camera are improved, and the camera is prevented from being automatically started without permission.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of circuit technologies, and in particular, to a camera electronic switch control circuit and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] The background art of the camera electronic switch control circuit mainly stems from the increasing demands for privacy protection and device security. In modern laptops and mobile devices, cameras are almost standard. Although their wide application has provided great convenience for scenarios such as video calls, remote meetings, and online learning, it has also brought potential privacy leaks and security risks.

[0003] Due to frequent network security problems, users' awareness of privacy protection has become stronger. Unauthorized software can quietly activate the camera in the background, and users may even be filmed without their knowledge. The traditional method of closing the camera through software cannot completely eliminate this hidden danger because software control has the risk of being bypassed by hackers. Some solutions are to equip a physical blocking switch near the camera, and the camera lens is covered by sliding the switch to ensure user privacy. However, this method cannot truly cut off the power supply of the camera, and power consumption will still occur even when the camera is not in use, resulting in increased power consumption of the laptop battery and thus reducing the battery life of the device. Therefore, a solution that can directly control the power supply of the camera at the hardware level has become an urgent need.

[0004] Existing laptop camera electronic switches, although they can also achieve certain switching functions, still have some disadvantages and inconveniences. For example, the operation is inconvenient. Users need to remember to manually turn off the camera when not in use, otherwise it may be occupied by other applications or exploited by malicious software, which increases the user's operation burden. Or there is physical wear. Frequent sliding of the switch may cause physical wear of the switch, and its normal operation may be affected after long-term use. Or there is a risk of misoperation. When carrying a laptop, the switch may be accidentally touched, resulting in the accidental closing of the camera and affecting the user experience. Finally, the existing camera switch technology also has limitations in privacy protection. Although the camera privacy switch can prevent the camera from being directly seen from the outside, it cannot prevent the acquisition of images through methods such as screen recording. Therefore, there is still a risk of privacy leakage in some cases. How to provide a laptop camera electronic switch control circuit to improve the security of the camera is an urgent problem to be solved currently. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above technical problems, the present invention provides a camera electronic switch control circuit and a control method thereof.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a camera electronic switch control circuit, and the switch control circuit at least includes: a control module, a mechanical switch module, a power protection module, and a camera controller, wherein the control module and the mechanical switch module are respectively connected to the power protection module, and the power protection module is connected to the camera controller;

[0007] The control module is used for inputting a first control signal;

[0008] The mechanical switch module is used for inputting a second control signal;

[0009] The power protection module is used for generating a target control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, and the target control signal is used for controlling the camera controller to be turned on or off.

[0010] Optionally, the switch control circuit further includes a display module, the display module is connected to the power protection module, and the display module is used for displaying the state of the camera according to the output signal of the power protection module.

[0011] Optionally, the display module is an LED lamp.

[0012] Optionally, the control module is a single-chip microcomputer.

[0013] Optionally, the power protection module is an N-MOSFET switch tube.

[0014] Optionally, the IO control signal of the control module is connected to the fourth pin of the power protection module.

[0015] Optionally, the second pin of the mechanical switch module is connected to the fourth pin of the power protection module.

[0016] Optionally, the first end of the power protection module is connected to the camera controller.

[0017] Optionally, the second pin of the power protection module is connected to the gate of the MOS tube, the drain of the MOS tube is connected to the first end of the display module, and the second end of the display module is connected to the power supply terminal.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a control method for a camera, which is applied to the camera electronic switch control circuit according to any one of the first aspects, and the method includes:

[0019] When the first control signal and the second control signal are at a high level, turn on the camera.

[0020] The camera electronic switch control circuit and control method provided by the present invention, the switch control circuit at least includes: a control module, a mechanical switch module, a power protection module and a camera controller. Wherein, the control module and the mechanical switch module are respectively connected to the power protection module, and the power protection module is connected to the camera controller; the control module is used to input a first control signal; the mechanical switch module is used to input a second control signal; the power protection module is used to generate a target control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, and the target control signal is used to control the camera controller to turn on or off. It combines the dual operations of software control and mechanical switch. By controlling the conduction and cutoff of the N-MOSFET, the power supply state of the camera is indirectly controlled. After the camera can be selected to be turned on through software, the working state of the camera can be further managed through an external mechanical switch, realizing manual and rapid control, improving the flexibility and privacy security of the camera's use, and preventing the camera from being automatically turned on without permission. Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a camera electronic switch control circuit provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is another schematic diagram of a camera electronic switch control circuit provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 It is still another schematic diagram of a camera electronic switch control circuit provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiment

[0024] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 , the present invention provides a schematic structural diagram of a camera electronic switch control circuit. The camera electronic switch control circuit includes a control module 101, a mechanical switch module 102, a power protection module 103 and a camera controller 104. Wherein, the control module 101 and the mechanical switch module 102 are respectively connected to the power protection module 103, and the power protection module 103 is connected to the camera controller 104;

[0026] The control module 101 is used to input a first control signal; the first control signal can be a high level or a low level;

[0027] The mechanical switch module 102 is used to input the second control signal; the second control signal can be a high level or a low level;

[0028] The power protection module 103 is used to generate a target control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, and the target control signal is used to control the camera controller 104 to turn on or off.

[0029] The power protection module is an N-MOSFET chip, which is used to perform logic control on the first control signal and the second control signal.

[0030] In the embodiment of the present application, "AND" logic control is adopted, that is, only when the camera function is enabled at the software level (CAM_EN is high level), that is, the first control signal, and the mechanical switch on the side of the notebook is also in the open state (BTN_ON_OFF is high level), that is, the second control signal, the camera will be activated. Otherwise, no matter which one of the software or the mechanical switch is not turned on, the camera will remain powered off, ensuring that the camera cannot be turned on without authorization.

[0031] The embodiment of the present application includes a camera power control module and a camera LED indicator control circuit module, as Figure 2 shown:

[0032] 1. Camera power control module

[0033] The core of the camera power module provided by the embodiment of the present application is that, different from the traditional mechanical switch method, an electronic switch method is added, and electronic components are used to control the flow and termination of current, so as to realize the on and off of the circuit. It is necessary to consider the protection function, intelligence and high efficiency of the electronic switch. In order to ensure the reliability of the system, the electronic switch integrates multiple protection functions, such as undervoltage protection, overcurrent and overvoltage monitoring, etc.

[0034] The user can turn it on manually when the camera is needed, or can automatically turn on and off the camera through software, without complex operations, greatly improving the user's operation convenience and privacy security.

[0035] Optionally, the switch control circuit further includes a display module, and the display module is connected to the power protection module. The display module is used to display the status of the camera according to the output signal of the power protection module.

[0036] Optionally, the display module is an LED light. If the LED light is turned off, it shows red, and if the LED light is turned on, it shows green.

[0037] 2. Specifically, the camera electronic switch also provides an LED indicator control circuit that matches the camera switch behavior. When the camera electronic switch is not open, the LED is set to the off state through the N-MOSFET switch.

[0038] Optionally, the second pin of the power protection module is connected to the gate of the MOS transistor, the drain of the MOS transistor is connected to the first end of the display module, and the second end of the display module is connected to the power supply terminal.

[0039] That is, the second end of the mechanical switch module 102 is connected to the gate of the MOS transistor, the first end is connected to the power supply terminal, and the power supply terminal is 3.3V. The third end is connected to the ground through the resistor R11576. The second end is connected to the ground through the capacitor C13275. The source of the MOS transistor is connected to the negative pole of the LED through the capacitor C13274 and the resistor R115722. The positive pole of the LED is connected to the power supply terminal through the resistor 11571, and the power supply terminal is 3.3V.

[0040] When a high level is output by receiving an IO signal (CAM_EN) from the software layer to control the EC or when the mechanical switch is toggled to determine the high state of the BTN_ON_OFF signal, the LED will be set to the on state through the N-MOSFET switch, and the LED lights up, indicating that the camera electronic switch is in the open state.

[0041] The design of the camera LED indicator control circuit module provided in the embodiments of the present application involves multiple aspects, including hardware circuit design, signal distribution, and interfaces with microcontrollers, including hardware design complexity, signal distribution, brightness and color control, status indication, circuit matching issues, etc. Among them, the hardware design complexity, such as the control circuit design of the camera LED indicator is usually more complex and requires multiple discrete components to realize the connection between the LED control switch and the microcontroller logic, which indicates that the reliability and flexibility of the circuit need to be considered during the design process. Signal distribution needs to consider the signal functions assigned to the LED indicators, such as network access, blinking patterns, etc. For brightness and color control, the colors and brightness of the LEDs defined in different scenarios need to be considered, which depends to a certain extent on function customization. Status indication is relatively important. It is often used to display different working states of the camera, such as power status, recording status, network connection status, etc. These status indications help users quickly understand the working conditions of the device.

[0042] For circuit matching issues, the level matching of components such as the N-MOSFET switch in the design needs to be considered to ensure that the EC controller can correctly read and control the pin level status of the indicator.

[0043] In addition, the design of the camera LED indicator control circuit not only needs to consider the complexity and reliability of the hardware, but also needs to achieve flexible signal distribution and status indication functions through software configuration. In addition, attention should also be paid to the level matching problem between circuits to ensure the overall performance of the system.

[0044] Optionally, the control module is a single-chip microcomputer.

[0045] Optionally, the power protection module is an N-MOSFET switch. The power protection module at least includes a high-side power switch RT9742CGJ5 and its supporting resistor-capacitor and mechanical switch circuits. RT9742CGJ5 can be regarded as an N-MOSFET switch.

[0046] Optionally, the IO control signal of the control module is connected to the fourth pin of the power protection module.

[0047] Optionally, the second pin of the mechanical switch module is connected to the fourth pin of the power protection module.

[0048] Optionally, the first end of the power protection module is connected to the camera controller.

[0049] The present invention provides a control method for a camera, which is applied to the above-mentioned camera electronic switch control circuit. The method includes:

[0050] When the first control signal and the second control signal are at a high level, the camera is turned on.

[0051] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, it is jointly controlled by the IO control signal CAM_EN from the EC (embedded controller, and this circuit is controlled by this controller) and the BTN_ON_OFF signal generated by the mechanical switch. The software layer outputs a high level or a low level by controlling the IO signal (CAM_EN) of the EC, and the toggling of the mechanical switch determines the state of the BTN_ON_OFF signal. When the mechanical switch is in the open state, BTN_ON_OFF is connected to P3V3_AUX through a 10K pull-up resistor, thereby generating a high level; when the mechanical switch is closed, BTN_ON_OFF is grounded through a 4.7K pull-down resistor and outputs a low level.

[0052] This modular circuit is an electronic switch control circuit specially designed to control the power supply of a notebook camera. Its design has multiple functions and protection mechanisms to ensure that while the user flexibly controls the camera, power protection for the camera device is provided. The following is a detailed introduction:

[0053] 1. Camera power control:

[0054] The circuit combines the dual operations of software control and mechanical switches. By controlling the conduction and cutoff of the N-MOSFET, it indirectly controls the power supply status of the camera. This means that after the user turns on the camera through software, they can further manage the working status of the camera through an external mechanical switch to achieve manual and rapid control. This design improves the flexibility and privacy security of camera use and prevents the camera from being automatically turned on without permission.

[0055] 2. Comprehensive power protection mechanism:

[0056] The module circuit has multiple protection functions to ensure the safety and stability of the camera and power supply equipment. They are as follows:

[0057] a. Overcurrent protection: Effectively prevents excessive current from flowing through the camera and avoids equipment damage caused by too high current.

[0058] b. Short-circuit current foldback: When a short-circuit occurs, the circuit can automatically limit the current output to prevent damage.

[0059] c. Thermal shutdown protection: When the circuit temperature is too high, it automatically cuts off the power supply to prevent the circuit from being damaged due to overheating, improving the safety and reliability of the system.

[0060] d. Under-voltage lockout protection: Prevents the system from being unstable when the voltage is too low, ensures that the camera works within a normal and stable voltage range, and avoids equipment failures caused by insufficient voltage.

[0061] e. Delay function: A delay protection mechanism is added to the design, which can effectively avoid misoperations caused by instantaneous surge current from affecting the camera operation.

[0062] f. The circuit design also includes a reverse current blocking function. It prevents current from flowing back from the camera to the power supply circuit. Further protects the power supply of the main board and ensures the stability and safety of the entire system.

[0063] The actual effect of this module circuit is that after the user turns on the camera through software settings, they can flexibly and quickly control the power on / off of the camera through an external mechanical switch. This design greatly improves the operation convenience and privacy security of users. Users can easily turn off the power when the camera is not needed without complex operations. The design of the mechanical switch makes the activation and shutdown of the camera simpler and more intuitive. This modular circuit not only protects the camera power supply but also provides comprehensive security for the main board power supply.

[0064] The background technology of the camera electronic switch control circuit mainly stems from the increasing demand for privacy protection and device security. In modern laptops and mobile devices, cameras are almost standard. Although their wide application has provided great convenience for scenarios such as video calls, remote meetings, and online learning, it has also brought potential privacy leaks and security risks.

[0065] Due to frequent network security problems, users' awareness of privacy protection has become stronger. Unauthorized software can quietly activate the camera in the background, and users may even be filmed without their knowledge. The traditional method of turning off the camera through software cannot completely eliminate this hidden danger because software control is at risk of being bypassed by hackers. Some solutions are equipped with physical occlusion switches near the camera, covering the camera lens by sliding the switch to ensure user privacy. However, this method cannot truly cut off the power supply of the camera, and power consumption will still occur even when the camera is not in use, resulting in increased power consumption of the laptop battery and thus reducing the battery life of the device. Therefore, a solution that can directly control the camera power supply at the hardware level has become an urgent need. The embodiment of this application introduces a "AND" logic control mechanism between the IO control signal (CAM_EN) of the EC and the mechanical switch signal (BTN_ON_OFF). Only when both signals are at a high level, the camera power supply circuit will be turned on. This means that even if the CAM_EN signal at the software level is hacked and bypassed, as long as the mechanical switch is not turned on, the camera still cannot be powered on. This dual protection mechanism effectively solves the security vulnerabilities that rely solely on software control and ensures that user privacy is not easily leaked.

[0066] The control of the camera power supply is achieved through the high-side power switch RT9742CGJ5. This improvement ensures that the camera is truly physically powered off completely when not in use, thus significantly reducing the power consumption of the device and improving the battery life of the laptop. This is particularly important for mobile device users, as it can significantly extend the usage time and enhance the user experience.

[0067] Through the improvement of the above technical solutions, various defects and deficiencies in the prior art have been overcome. Whether in terms of power consumption optimization, privacy security, or user experience, this new circuit design has shown significant advantages.

[0068] The camera electronic switch control circuit and control method provided by the embodiments of the present invention. The switch control circuit at least includes: a control module, a mechanical switch module, a power protection module, and a camera controller. Among them, the control module and the mechanical switch module are respectively connected to the power protection module, and the power protection module is connected to the camera controller; the control module is used to input a first control signal; the mechanical switch module is used to input a second control signal; the power protection module is used to generate a target control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, and the target control signal is used to control the camera controller to turn on or off. It combines the dual operations of software control and mechanical switches. By controlling the on and off of the N-MOSFET, the power supply state of the camera can be indirectly controlled. After the camera is turned on by software selection, the working state of the camera can be further managed through an external mechanical switch, realizing manual and fast control, improving the flexibility and privacy security of the camera, and preventing the camera from being automatically turned on without permission.

[0069] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A camera electronic switch control circuit, characterized in that: The switch control circuit at least includes: a control module, a mechanical switch module, a power protection module and a camera controller, wherein the control module and the mechanical switch module are respectively connected to the power protection module, and the power protection module is connected to the camera controller; The control module is used to input a first control signal; The mechanical switch module is used to input a second control signal; The power protection module is used to generate a target control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, and the target control signal is used to control the camera controller to turn on or off.

2. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The switch control circuit also includes a display module, which is connected to the power protection module. The display module is used to display the state of the camera according to the output signal of the power protection module.

3. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The display module is an LED lamp.

4. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module is a single chip microcomputer.

5. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that: The power protection module is an N-MOSFET switch tube.

6. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that: The IO control signal of the control module is connected to the fourth pin of the power protection module.

7. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second pin of the mechanical switch module is connected to the fourth pin of the power protection module.

8. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end of the power protection module is connected to the camera controller.

9. The camera electronic switch control circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second pin of the power protection module is connected to the gate of the MOS tube, the drain of the MOS tube is connected to the first end of the display module, and the second end of the display module is connected to the power supply end.

10. A camera control method, characterized in that: Applied to the camera electronic switch control circuit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising: When the first control signal and the second control signal are at a high level, the camera is turned on.

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