Electronic Device Rear Camera Optical Axis Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to prevent image quality deterioration due to flare effects caused by reflection or diffraction in electronic apparatuses with cameras positioned on the bezel, while also reducing the bezel width to accommodate smaller form factors.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an electronic apparatus with a display unit and multiple imaging optical systems positioned on the side opposite to the display surface, featuring different optical characteristics and layouts to vary flare generation, allowing for image data acquisition that minimizes flare effects by merging data from these systems using machine learning models or image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the bezel width is reduced to increase display screen size, then the display screen area is improved, but the camera cannot be accommodated on the bezel
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is repositioned from the traditional bezel location (2D surface) to the rear side of the display unit, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to resolve the space conflict. This allows the display screen to expand to edge-to-edge without compromising camera functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the camera on the front bezel as in conventional designs, the camera module is inverted to be positioned on the rear side of the display unit, facing the display surface. This reversal enables both maximum display area and functional camera placement.
2Ease of operation
If the camera is disposed on the bezel, then the camera can capture images, but the visual line deviates from the optical axis causing unnatural captured images
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the camera from the front bezel to the rear side of the display unit, the optical axis of the camera can be aligned with the display surface normal, ensuring that the visual line coincides with the optical axis during video calls and producing natural captured images.
3Reliability
If multiple imaging optical systems with different optical characteristics are used, then flare effects are reduced through data merging, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple imaging optical systems with different optical characteristics are combined and their data is merged through image processing to reduce flare effects. The systems work together to provide complementary information that cancels out flare artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
Different imaging optical systems are designed with varying optical parameters (focal length, aperture, optical path length) to create diverse light collection characteristics. This parameter variation enables the systems to respond differently to flare light, allowing for effective flare reduction through data fusion.
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 approach effectively reduces flare impacts on captured images, enabling high-quality imaging without increasing the bezel width, thus addressing the issue of image quality deterioration while maintaining a compact device form.
Implementation Method 1
imaging optical systems disposed on a side opposite to a display surface of the display unit and overlapped with the displayable region
Implementation Method 2
capture, using the camera, an image of object light having passed through the display unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
[Object] Deterioration of image quality of an image captured by a camera is suppressed while a width of a bezel is reduced. [Solving Means] An electronic apparatus (1) includes a display unit (2), a plurality of imaging optical systems, and an image acquisition unit. The display unit has a displayable region that includes display optical systems disposed in an array in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. The plurality of imaging optical systems is disposed on a side opposite to a display surface of the display unit and overlapped with the displayable region in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and includes at least a first imaging optical system (3) and a second imaging optical system (3) having coordinates different from coordinates of the first imaging optical system in at least one of the first direction and the second direction. The image acquisition unit acquires image data on the basis of information acquired by the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system.