Integrated Display Camera Using Infrared Light Guide Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for seamlessly integrating a camera behind a display, such as in automotive devices, face challenges including increased complexity, cost, and reduced image quality due to LCD panel opacity and polarizers, necessitating complex hardware and control logic to compensate for image distortion.
Innovation Solution
A display with an integrated camera operates in the infrared wavelength spectrum, utilizing a light guide with nanostructures and a camera window, eliminating the need for a switchable diffuser, through holes, and complex alignment, and enhancing image quality with a post-processing algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is integrated behind an LCD display using conventional visible light cameras, then the display can capture images, but the LCD panel and polarizers absorb and scatter visible light, reducing image quality and requiring complex restoration optics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of light from visible spectrum to infrared spectrum. The camera operates in the infrared wavelength spectrum, and the light guide includes a camera window with nanostructures that are transparent to infrared light. This parameter change allows infrared light to pass through the LCD panel and polarizers without significant absorption or scattering, eliminating the need for complex restoration optics while maintaining high image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive restoration optics with a simpler infrared camera system. By using infrared wavelengths that naturally penetrate the display components, the system eliminates the need for costly optical restoration elements, achieving the same image quality improvement through a more economical approach
2Ease of manufacture
If through holes are drilled in the LCD panel for camera integration, then the camera can capture light, but the alignment and maintenance of through holes increases manufacturing complexity and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the camera window from the LCD panel structure itself and places it in the light guide. The camera window with nanostructures is formed in the light guide rather than requiring holes through the LCD panel, thereby eliminating the manufacturing complexity of aligning and maintaining through holes across multiple LCD layers while still providing a clear path for light to reach the camera
3Adaptability or versatility
If lower pixel density or smaller pixels are used in the camera active area to create space for light entry, then the camera can be integrated behind the display, but each platform requires specially designed LCD panels, increasing design complexity and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter to infrared, which allows standard LCD panels to be used with infrared cameras. The nanostructures in the light guide camera window are designed to be transparent to infrared light, enabling light to reach the camera sensor without requiring modifications to the LCD panel's pixel structure. This maintains full pixel density while achieving seamless camera integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal solution that works with standard LCD panels across different platforms. By using infrared wavelengths and a light guide with nanostructures, the system can be implemented without requiring specially designed LCD panels for each application, thereby reducing design complexity and enabling broader versatility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves seamless camera integration with improved image quality and reduced complexity, enabling cost-effective implementation in various displays without additional processing or hardware, while maintaining display performance and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The camera is configured to operate in a wavelength spectrum in which the LCD panel and the polarizers have minimal impact, such as in the infrared wavelength spectrum
Implementation Method 2
The backlight unit includes a light source disposed at an edge of the display device and a light guide
Implementation Method 3
The light guide includes a camera window with nanostructures in the active area of the camera
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present application relates to an apparatus and a vehicle comprising such apparatus. The apparatus comprises a display device (1) and a camera (3). The display device (1) comprises a cover glass (7), an LCD Panel (2), and a backlight unit. The LCD Panel (2) is arranged behind the cover glass (7), the backlight unit is arranged behind the LCD Panel (2) and the camera (3) is arranged behind the backlight unit with its field of view directed to the backlight unit. The field of view of the camera (3) defines an active area (9) of the camera (3). The backlight unit comprises an edge light source (8) and a light guide (5). The light guide (5) is a light guide (5) with microstructures (12). The camera (3) is operating in the infrared wavelength spectrum. The light guide (5) in the active area (9) of the camera (3) comprises a camera window (11) with nanostructures (12).