Foldable Camera Preview Display for Angled Photography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of foldable electronic devices face difficulties in taking pictures and videos at various angles due to the camera's orientation relative to the display, making it challenging to check a preview image and handle the camera effectively.

Innovation Solution

A foldable electronic device with a housing, hinge structures, sensors, and processors that identify the positioning and angles of its parts, allowing the display to adjust the preview image and user interface (UI) accordingly, enabling flexible display regions to accommodate different camera orientations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the camera is arranged to face the display in a typical bar-type electronic device, then the camera structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it becomes difficult for users to check the preview image and handle the camera when taking pictures at various angles (low-angle or high-angle shots)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera structure simplicityVSAvoidcamera handling at various angles
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the display flexible and capable of bending to different angles. The display can dynamically adjust its orientation to match the camera's shooting angle, allowing users to conveniently check preview images whether taking low-angle, high-angle, or straight-on shots. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between simple camera structure and ease of operation at various angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of flexibility by allowing the display to bend and change its spatial orientation. Instead of being constrained to a fixed planar configuration, the display can extend in multiple dimensions, positioning itself in the optimal viewing location relative to the camera regardless of the shooting angle, thus solving the operational difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the display is fixed in a typical bar-type electronic device, then the device structure is simple, but the user cannot check the preview image when the camera is positioned at angles that make the display invisible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoiddisplay adaptability to camera orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display transitions from a fixed static structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can bend and reposition itself. This allows the display to adapt its orientation and position based on the camera's shooting angle, enabling users to view preview images in various orientations while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible display serves multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for camera control and the preview image display, adapting to various camera orientations. This multi-functionality increases the device's versatility without requiring separate dedicated displays for different viewing scenarios.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If the camera is arranged to face the display, then the camera and display alignment is straightforward, but the preview image becomes invisible to the user when the device is positioned above or below eye level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera and display alignmentVSAvoidpreview image visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible display can dynamically reposition itself relative to the camera module. When the device is held at various heights or angles, the display bends to maintain an optimal viewing position for the preview image, ensuring visibility regardless of whether the device is above or below eye level while keeping the initial alignment straightforward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4068043B1Foldable electronic device comprising camera
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4068043B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068043B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068043B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device according to the present disclosure comprises: a housing including a plurality of parts and at least one hinge structure connecting the plurality of parts, the at least one hinge structure having a first hinge structure arranged between a first part and a second part from among the plurality of parts so as to connect the first part to the second part; a first sensor arranged in the first part; a second sensor arranged in the second part; a display which is arranged in the space formed by the housing and which is bendable according to respective angles formed by the plurality of parts; a first camera arranged, in the first part, on a surface facing the display; and at least one processor electrically connected to the first sensor, the second sensor, the display, and the first camera, wherein the at least one processor can be configured to execute a camera application associated with the first camera, identify the positioning of the first part on the basis of a value acquired by the first sensor, identify the positioning of the second part on the basis of a value acquired by the second sensor, identify, on the basis of the identified positioning of the first part and the identified positioning of the second part, an angle formed by the first part and the second part, display a preview image acquired by the first camera on a second display area corresponding to the second part in a display area of the display when the angle is within a first designated range, display the preview image on a first display area corresponding to the first part and the second display area in the display area of the display when the angle is within a second designated range, and display a user interface (UI) of the camera application through the display.