Privacy Shutter Mechanism for Camera Lens Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with built-in cameras face challenges in providing a compact privacy protection shutter mechanism that can easily and reliably block the camera lens and indicate the blocked state, while maintaining a small installation space and ensuring user recognition of the blocked status.
Innovation Solution
A privacy protection shutter mechanism is provided on the outer edge of the display, featuring a rotation pivot, a blocking portion to cover the camera lens, and an operation portion that moves the blocking portion between block and open positions, with an operation protrusion to display the blocked state, allowing for simple and reliable camera lens blocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a privacy protection shutter mechanism is added to block the camera lens, then camera privacy protection is improved, but the device size and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter mechanism is integrated into the camera module structure, with the shutter blade nested within the camera housing. The rotation pivot is positioned within the camera module's depth, allowing the shutter to fold into the existing device volume rather than adding external bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter mechanism utilizes the depth dimension (Z-axis) of the camera module by implementing a rotation-based design. Instead of extending the device width or length, the shutter rotates around a pivot point positioned within the camera module's thickness, moving the blocking surface along the optical path without increasing the device's footprint.
2Reliability
If a shutter mechanism with blocking portion and operation portion is implemented, then camera blocking reliability is improved, but the installation space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operation portion is merged with the display surface, where a visual indicator (such as an icon or symbol) is displayed to show the shutter state. This eliminates the need for separate physical indicators or additional control mechanisms, consolidating the user interface within the existing display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera module serves multiple functions: it acts as both the imaging device and the housing for the shutter mechanism. The camera lens area is used as the blocking surface when the shutter is closed, and the same space serves as the visual indicator area on the display when the shutter is open, maximizing space utilization.
3Ease of operation
If a rotation-based shutter mechanism is used to block the camera, then ease of operation is improved, but the complexity of the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter mechanism includes a biasing element (such as a spring) that automatically returns the shutter blade to the closed position after opening. This self-returning feature reduces the complexity of control mechanisms by eliminating the need for separate actuators to close the shutter, while maintaining ease of operation through simple user input.
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 easy and reliable camera blocking in a small space, ensuring user recognition of the blocked state, and allows for simultaneous blocking of multiple camera lenses with a simple pivoting operation, enhancing privacy protection in electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a rotation pivot with which the privacy protection shutter is rotatable
Data Source
AI summary
A blocking mechanism of a privacy protection shutter for a camera is provided on an outer edge portion of a display of an electronic device. The privacy protection shutter includes a rotation pivot with which the privacy protection shutter is rotatable; a blocking portion that covers a lens of the camera to disable the camera to image at a block position; and an operation portion configured to cause the privacy protection shutter to rotate with the rotation pivot so as to move the blocking portion between the block position and an open position at which the lens is not covered by the blocking portion.