Retractable Camera Module With Piezo Cam for Smartwatch Displays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic devices, such as smart watches, have a low screen-to-body ratio due to the placement of functional devices like cameras beside the display screen, making them prone to damage during collisions and limiting the expansion of the display area.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a piezoelectric driving mechanism with a cam system that allows the functional device to retract into the housing for protection and extend out when needed, using a transmission mechanism that includes a cam mounted on a piezoelectric device, which rotates to change the device's location, thereby increasing the screen-to-body ratio without occupying display screen mounting space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a functional device is fixed beside the display screen, then the smart watch has call and video call functions, but the screen-to-body ratio is reduced and the functional device is prone to damage during collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The functional device is designed to be movable rather than fixed, capable of extending out of the housing when needed and retracting into the housing when not in use. This dynamic configuration allows the device to occupy space only when functional, thereby increasing the screen-to-body ratio while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional device is arranged in a telescopic configuration that extends in a direction perpendicular to the display screen plane. By utilizing the depth dimension of the housing rather than lateral space, the device can extend outward without reducing the area available for the display screen on the front face.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a functional device is fixed beside the display screen, then the smart watch has call and video call functions, but the functional device is extremely damaged when the smart watch collides
Solution Approach 1:
The functional device is designed to be movable rather than fixed, capable of extending out of the housing when needed and retracting into the housing when not in use. This dynamic configuration allows the device to occupy space only when functional, thereby increasing the screen-to-body ratio while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional device can be retracted into the housing before a collision occurs, providing protective cushioning by positioning the vulnerable device within the protective boundary of the housing rather than exposing it on the exterior surface.
3Reliability
If a camera telescoping mechanism with energy storage driving unit is used, then the camera module can perform stretching and retraction motion, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage driving unit and active driving unit are removed from the system, extracting the complex mechanical transmission components. Instead, a piezoelectric device is used to directly drive the cam, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining the ability to control the functional device's extension and retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical driving mechanism with multiple units is replaced by a piezoelectric device, which converts electrical energy directly into mechanical motion. This substitution eliminates the need for energy storage components and active driving units, significantly simplifying the structure.
4Ease of operation
If the functional device is mounted on the housing surface, then it can be accessed, but it occupies space needed for the display screen
Solution Approach 1:
The functional device is arranged in a telescopic configuration that extends in a direction perpendicular to the display screen plane. By utilizing the depth dimension of the housing rather than lateral space, the device can extend outward for accessibility without reducing the area available for the display screen on the front face.
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 solution enhances user experience by eliminating electromagnetic interference and noise, simplifying the structure, and ensuring the functional device is protected from collisions while allowing it to function normally, thus increasing the screen-to-body ratio and improving reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the piezoelectric device can vibrate when being energized, so that the functional device is driven through the transmission mechanism to move
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed in the present application is an electronic apparatus, which belongs to the field of communication apparatuses. The electronic apparatus comprises a housing provided with an opening, a functional device movably arranged on the housing, and a driving mechanism and a transmission mechanism, which are arranged inside the housing. The driving mechanism comprises a piezoelectric device, and the piezoelectric device vibrates when electrified. The transmission mechanism comprises a cam wheel, the cam wheel is arranged at an inner side of the functional device, the cam wheel comprises a wheel body and a protruding part, the protruding part is arranged at a wheel rim of the wheel body, and the wheel body is arranged on the piezoelectric device. The piezoelectric device drives the cam wheel to rotate between a first position and a second position; when the cam wheel is in the first position, the functional device is located within the housing; and when the cam wheel is in the second position, the protruding part drives at least part of the functional device to protrude out of the housing from the opening.