Light Concentrating Plate for Under-screen Camera

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current camera modules in mobile terminals, especially under-screen cameras, face challenges with limited light extraction angles and amounts due to their deeper position, affecting shooting quality.

Innovation Solution

A light-concentrating device with a light-concentrating plate and display screen that uses a plurality of light adjusting units with insoluble conductive and non-conductive liquids, and adjustment electrodes to deflect and incline light, allowing for adjustable deflection angles and improved light concentration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a camera module is positioned deeper in the screen (under-screen camera), then the screen ratio is improved, but the light extraction angle and light extraction amount are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen ratioVSAvoidlight extraction amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

A light-concentrating plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the under-screen camera and the external environment. This plate contains multiple light adjusting units that actively manipulate light paths, enabling the deeper-positioned camera to capture sufficient light while maintaining a high screen ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light adjusting units incorporate adjustable components (such as liquid crystal elements or movable mirrors) that can dynamically change the light extraction angle and concentration. This allows the system to adapt to different lighting conditions and optimize light capture despite the camera's fixed deep position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If a camera module is positioned deeper in the screen, then the screen ratio is improved, but the shooting quality is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen ratioVSAvoidshooting quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light-concentrating plate with light adjusting units serves as an optical intermediary that compensates for the disadvantages of the deep camera position. By actively concentrating and directing light onto the sensor, it ensures high shooting quality despite the camera being positioned deeper in the screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes optical parameters (light angle, light intensity, light concentration) through the adjustable light adjusting units. This allows optimization of the light reaching the sensor, thereby maintaining high shooting quality regardless of the camera's deep position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If lenses are used for focusing and light concentration, then light concentration is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight concentrationVSAvoidcamera module structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical lens-based light concentration systems with an alternative approach using light adjusting units that may employ liquid crystal, electro-optic, or other non-mechanical methods to achieve light concentration, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The light-concentrating plate with light adjusting units serves multiple functions: it concentrates light, adjusts light angles, and can potentially perform focusing as well. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate optical components, simplifying the camera module structure while maintaining effective light concentration.

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

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

The solution enables increased light concentration and focusing, enhancing shooting quality by allowing more light to be captured without the need for openings or holes in the screen, thereby improving image quality and screen ratio.

Implementation Method 1

The voltages may be applied between the first electrode layer and the adjustment electrodes, so that the first light-transmissive liquid can be deflected and inclined in the house, thereby deflecting the light transmitted through the house

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrowetting: Electrowetting

Implementation Method 2

The house is filled with insoluble first light-transmissive liquid and second light-transmissive liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3798714B1Light concentrating device, light-concentrating display screen, and electric product
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3798714B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3798714B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3798714B1 patent drawingFigure 7A~8

AI summary

A light-concentrating device (600), a light-concentrating display screen (300), and an electric product (400, 500) are provided. The light-concentrating device (600) includes a light-concentrating plate (100). The light-concentrating plate (100) includes dimming units (10), each dimming unit (10) including a house (11), the house (11) being filled with first light-transmissive liquid (114) and second light-transmissive liquid (115) insoluble with each other. Light may be refracted when passing through the interface between the first light-transmissive liquid (114) and the second light-transmissive liquid (115). Adjustment electrodes (12) are provided on sides of the house (11), and a common electrode layer (13) is provided at an end of the house (11). The voltages may be applied between the common electrode layer (13) and the adjustment electrodes (12) on the sides of the house (11).