Rack-Driven Rotating Pop-Up Camera for Full-Display Phones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with front-facing cameras often compromise on display area due to the camera's placement, limiting the camera's angle adjustment and functionality for both selfie and rear photography modes.
Innovation Solution
A camera module that rotates and slides within the device, using a pinion gear and rack gear mechanism to adjust its angle from 0 to 300 degrees, allowing seamless switching between front and rear camera modes without obstructing the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a camera is disposed on a front surface of the electronic device, then the camera can perform front-facing photography, but the display cannot use a maximum area of the front surface
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is made movable through a sliding mechanism that allows it to transition between a retracted position (within the display area) and an extended position (protruding from the front surface). This dynamic positioning enables the display to occupy the maximum front surface area when the camera is not in use, while still providing camera functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera module is positioned in a third dimension (depth) relative to the front surface, allowing it to slide between retracted and extended positions. This dimensional approach separates the camera's operational space from the display's surface area, enabling both to coexist without compromising each other's functionality or space utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the camera is fixed on the front surface, then the structure is simple, but the camera angle adjustment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A rotational mechanism is integrated into the camera module, enabling it to rotate around its optical axis. This dynamic rotation capability allows the camera to adjust its shooting angle independently of its position on the device, providing versatile photography options while maintaining a relatively compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera module is designed to perform multiple functions: it can slide to adjust its distance from the front surface, rotate to change the shooting angle, and function as both a front-facing and rear-facing camera depending on its position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate camera modules for different purposes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the camera module can rotate and slide, then versatile camera positioning is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding and rotating mechanisms are integrated into a single camera module assembly, where the rotation mechanism is contained within the sliding structure. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device structure compared to having independent sliding and rotating mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating camera module is nested within the sliding structure, with the rotation mechanism contained inside the sliding assembly. This nested configuration allows both movements to occur within a compact space, minimizing the additional complexity introduced by the dual-degree-of-freedom mechanism.
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
Enables maximum display area usage while providing versatile camera positioning for enhanced photography experiences, supporting both selfie and rear photography modes without physical camera repositioning on the device's front surface.
Implementation Method 1
a pinion gear and rack gear mechanism to adjust its angle from 0 to 300 degrees
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An electronic device includes a housing, a display, at least part of which is inclu ded in the housing, a sliding part that includes an opening exposed to an outside area an d that slides relative to the housing, a camera module that is disposed in the opening an d that rotates relative to the sliding part, and a rack gear disposed parallel to a rear surface of the display and arranged to move in response to a movement of the sliding part. The camera module includes one or more lenses, a pinion gear corresponding to the rack gear, where the one or more lenses face a first direction, when the sliding part is at a first position inside the housing, where the one or more lenses face a second direction, when the sliding part is in a second position so that at least a part of the sliding part protrudes to the outside of the housing, and where when the sliding part slides from the first position to the second position, the camera module rotates in the opening of the sliding part so that the one or more lenses face from the first direction to the second direction by rotation of the pinion gear on the rack gear.