Fused Opaque and Clear Glass for Camera Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face challenges in integrating high-quality cameras and reducing veiling glare due to the omission of flash or illumination features and the susceptibility of glass covers to damage from impacts.
Innovation Solution
The integration of transparent camera, illuminator, and display windows within a strengthened glass or ceramic cover, which includes forming apertures for these windows and using fusion bonding and chemical strengthening to enhance durability and reduce veiling glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a glass cover is used for protection, then scratch resistance and protective barrier are improved, but susceptibility to impact damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining glass with ceramic materials to create a cover that exhibits both scratch resistance and impact resistance. The composite structure integrates the hardness of glass with the toughness of ceramic, resolving the contradiction between scratch protection and impact durability.
2Measurement precision
If flash or illumination is added to improve dark scene imaging, then image quality is improved, but integration difficulty and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination function with the existing cover glass structure by integrating illuminators directly into the cover assembly. This combining approach allows dark scene imaging to be improved without significantly increasing device complexity, as the illumination components are integrated rather than added as separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover glass is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a protective barrier and as an integrated housing for illumination components. This universal design allows the same structure to provide both protection and imaging enhancement, reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If opaque material is deposited on housing to create camera window, then camera integration is improved, but veiling glare increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific optical properties in different regions of the cover. The camera window area is treated with transparent or translucent characteristics to allow clear light transmission, while surrounding areas maintain opaque properties for structural support and glare reduction. This localized differentiation eliminates veiling glare while preserving camera integration.
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 enhances the quality of images and videos captured by reducing veiling glare and provides a robust, scratch-resistant cover for electronic devices, improving both image quality and device durability.
Implementation Method 1
the glass material of the cover glass is chemically strengthened by selectively immersing the cover glass in a heated bath of molten nitrate salts
Implementation Method 2
the outer perimeter of the transparent camera window is bonded against an inner perimeter of the first aperture
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Apparatus, systems and methods for windows integration with cover glass and for processing cover glass to provide windows for electronic devices are disclosed. Transparent windows such as a transparent camera window, a transparent illuminator window and/or a transparent display window can be integrated into the cover glass. The apparatus, systems and methods are especially suitable for cover glasses, or displays (e.g., LCD displays), assembled in small form factor electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players, personal digital assistants, remote controls, etc.). The apparatus, systems and methods can also be used for cover glasses or displays for other relatively larger form factor electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, tablet computers, displays, monitors, televisions, etc.).