Flexible Display Camera Layout for Rear-Camera Selfie Capture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with flexible displays face challenges in mounting space and camera protrusion, particularly when incorporating both front and rear cameras, which can increase battery capacity and limit image capture modes.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device design includes a flexible display that moves between closed and open states, with the rear camera module positioned to capture images in various modes, eliminating the need for a front camera module and reducing camera protrusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If both front camera module and rear camera module are mounted, then selfie photographing function is provided, but mounting space increases and camera protrusion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselfie photographing functionVSAvoidmounting space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The rear camera module is designed to perform multiple functions: both regular photographing and selfie photographing. By making the rear camera module universal, the patent eliminates the need for a separate front camera module, thereby reducing mounting space while maintaining the selfie photographing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of the front camera module and rear camera module into a single rear camera module. This consolidation combines selfie photographing capability with regular photographing capability, reducing the total number of camera modules and the space they occupy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If both front camera module and rear camera module are mounted, then selfie photographing function is provided, but camera protrusion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselfie photographing functionVSAvoidcamera protrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rear camera module is designed to perform multiple functions: both regular photographing and selfie photographing. By making the rear camera module universal, the patent eliminates the need for a separate front camera module, thereby reducing camera protrusion while maintaining the selfie photographing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If front camera module is located at bottom of display, then display area is maximized, but several holes are required and structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidcamera module structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the front camera module from the display structure. By removing this component entirely and using only the rear camera module for both front and back photographing functions, the display area is maximized without the need for punch holes or under-display camera structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If front camera module moves with display, then camera positioning is maintained, but overlap with rear camera module increases protrusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera positioningVSAvoidcamera protrusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4239440B1Electronic device comprising flexible display, and method for capturing image in electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.04.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

An electronic device according to various embodiments comprises: a camera module; a housing at least partially formed of a transparent material; a flexible display configured to include a first area and a second area extending from the first area, wherein the second area is inserted into the housing or exposed to the outside of the housing; and a processor. The processor may be configured to: display an image, received through the camera module, in the first area in a first camera interface when a camera application is executed in a first state in which the first area is exposed and the second area is inserted into the housing; and when switching to a second camera interface is selected, turn on the second area and switch to the second camera interface to display, in the second area, the image received through the camera module. Various other embodiments can be provided.