Dual-Aperture Camera Module for Space-Constrained Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of electronic components in terminal devices is hindered by the space occupied by both front-facing and rear-facing cameras, making it difficult to integrate more components due to their combined housing space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A photographing module that functions as both a front-facing and rear-facing camera by using a light sensing chip that captures ambient light from different sources through adjustable light capturing holes, eliminating the need for separate cameras and reducing housing space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If both a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera are equipped in the terminal device, then different photographing requirements are satisfied, but the space occupied in the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotographing functionVSAvoidhousing space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light sensing chip is designed to perform multiple functions by capturing light from different directions. Through optical elements and adjustable light capturing holes, the same chip can function as both a front-facing camera for selfies and a rear-facing camera for general photography, eliminating the need for separate camera modules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the front-facing camera and rear-facing camera functions into a single integrated photographing module. The light sensing chip, optical elements, and housing structure are merged into one unit that can capture light from both front and rear directions, reducing the total number of components and space occupation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If the front-facing camera is made retractable to extend out of the housing, then the screen-to-body ratio is increased, but the device complexity and space management become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen-to-body ratioVSAvoidcamera mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the light capturing function from a traditional retractable camera mechanism and integrates it into a fixed housing structure. By using adjustable light capturing holes and optical elements within a stationary module, the front-facing camera function is achieved without requiring mechanical extension and retraction mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustability through adjustable light capturing holes that can change their opening direction or position. This dynamic feature allows the same fixed structure to adapt to different photographing scenarios (front-facing and rear-facing) without mechanical movement of the entire camera module

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution allows the terminal device to reduce the number of cameras needed, thereby minimizing space occupation and enabling more efficient integration of electronic components within the device housing.

Implementation Method 1

a light sensing chip 120...the ambient light sensed by the light sensing chip in the first photographing state and the second photographing state come from different sources

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3993369B1Camera module and terminal device
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3993369B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3993369B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3993369B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a photographing module, including a module housing, and a light sensing chip and a light capturing apparatus that are disposed in a cavity of the module housing, where a first light capturing hole and a second light capturing hole are provided on two opposite sides of the module housing, the light capturing apparatus is disposed opposite to each of the first light capturing hole and the second light capturing hole, in a first photographing state, ambient light passing through the second light capturing hole is projected onto the light sensing chip through the light capturing apparatus, and in a second photographing state, ambient light passing through the first light capturing hole is projected onto the light sensing chip through the light capturing apparatus.