Dual-Function Display and Camera Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of front-facing cameras in mobile computing devices often requires notches or cut-outs in the display screen, reducing the usable area and creating an asymmetrical shape, which complicates manufacturing and impacts the layout of icons and graphical user interface elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating light sensors into the display screen among the light-emitting pixels, allowing the front-facing camera to be integrated without a notch or cut-out, thus maintaining a regular shape and increasing the viewable area by distributing the camera's functionality across the screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a front-facing camera is integrated into the display screen, then the camera functionality is achieved, but the display area is reduced due to notches or cut-outs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera light sensors with the display pixels by integrating the light sensing functionality directly into the display structure. Each display pixel incorporates a light sensor that can detect light for camera functions while maintaining the display's light-emitting capability, thus combining two separate functions (display and camera) into a single integrated structure without requiring separate notches or cut-outs
Solution Approach 2:
The display pixels are designed to serve multiple functions: they can emit light for display purposes and simultaneously detect light for camera functions. This multi-functionality allows the same physical structure to perform both display and camera operations, eliminating the need for dedicated camera openings in the display
2Quantity of substance
If a front-facing camera is integrated into the display screen, then the camera functionality is achieved, but the display shape becomes asymmetrical
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the camera light sensors with the display pixels in an integrated manner, the patent maintains the continuous, uniform rectangular shape of the display. The light sensors are distributed among the pixels rather than being concentrated in a separate notch or cut-out, preserving the symmetrical geometric shape
3Quantity of substance
If a front-facing camera is integrated into the display screen, then the camera functionality is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of light sensors within the existing display pixel structure leverages the shared manufacturing processes for displays. By using the same pixel architecture for both light emission and light detection, the patent avoids the need for separate camera module assembly and simplifies the manufacturing workflow
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 design enables a full rectangular display screen with increased viewable area, unaffected by the presence of the front-facing camera, improving the layout and manufacturing simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light sensors, wherein each light sensor in the plurality of light sensors is disposed adjacent to a corresponding light-emitting element of each pixel in the plurality of pixels and is configured to convert received light into an electrical signal corresponding to at least a portion of an image
Data Source
AI summary
A display screen includes a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels includes at least one light-emitting element; and a plurality of light sensors, wherein each light sensor in the plurality of light sensors is disposed adjacent to a corresponding light-emitting element of a pixel in the plurality of pixels and is configured to convert received light into an electrical signal corresponding to a portion of an image.