Liquid Crystal Shutter for Camera Module Privacy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with flat design LCDs face challenges in maintaining a unified color scheme and reliability in visually exposing or hiding camera modules due to mechanical shutters, which are costly and difficult to control electrically.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a liquid crystal shutter that uses an active matrix drive system and segmented electrodes to control panel transmittance, allowing for binary control of light passage through shutter apertures, ensuring a unified color scheme and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a mechanical shutter is used to close the aperture when the camera module is not active, then a unified color scheme is achieved, but reliability decreases and electrical control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system with a liquid crystal shutter system. The liquid crystal panel can change its optical properties (transparent to opaque) through electrical control without any moving mechanical parts, thereby eliminating the reliability issues associated with mechanical shutters while maintaining the ability to achieve a unified color scheme when the aperture is closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the ability of liquid crystal materials to change their optical transmission parameters in response to electrical signals. By applying voltage, the liquid crystal molecules reorient themselves, changing the panel's transmittance from high (transparent) to low (opaque), enabling reliable electrical control of the aperture closure while maintaining aesthetic uniformity.
2Illumination intensity
If a mechanical shutter is used to control the aperture, then light transmittance can be controlled, but device complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates complex mechanical shutter mechanisms by substituting them with an electrically controlled liquid crystal panel. This substitution maintains the ability to control light transmittance while dramatically reducing device complexity by removing moving parts, springs, motors, and other mechanical components required for traditional shutter mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal panel acts as an intermediary between the electrical control system and the optical path. Instead of using mechanical means to block or allow light passage, the patent uses the liquid crystal material's ability to change its optical properties in response to electrical signals, providing a simpler, more integrated solution that reduces overall device complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If an aperture is left open when the camera module is not active, then light can enter the camera module, but user security decreases due to uncertainty about camera activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an electrically controllable liquid crystal shutter system that can be reliably activated or deactivated based on camera module activity. This provides users with clear visual feedback about camera status (open shutter indicates active camera, closed shutter indicates inactive camera), thereby enhancing user security and eliminating uncertainty about unintended photographing.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal shutter provides visual feedback to users about the operational state of the camera module. When the camera is active, the shutter is open allowing light entry; when inactive, the shutter is closed providing visual confirmation that the camera is not active. This feedback mechanism enhances user security by making camera activity transparent and controllable.
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 liquid crystal shutter provides a reliable, cost-effective solution for controlling light transmittance, maintaining a unified color scheme and ensuring user security by visually indicating camera module activity without the limitations of mechanical shutters.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal shutter (100) capable of controlling a panel transmittance of a liquid crystal panel (87, 100)
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device having a liquid crystal shutter is disclosed. A liquid crystal shutter is provided in an area formed by expanding a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal shutter includes a rear polarizer, a rear glass substrate, a segmented electrode, a liquid crystal, a counter electrode, a front glass substrate, a shutter aperture, and a front polarizer. A camera module is disposed behind the rear polarizer. A voltage applied to the segmented electrode can be controlled to visually expose or hide the lens of the camera module from a shutter aperture.