Sliding Camera Mechanism for High Screen-to-Body Ratio

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Solution Overview

Problem

The camera in mobile terminals occupies space on the display panel, reducing the screen-to-body ratio and limiting the display area.

Innovation Solution

A mobile phone design featuring a rear housing with a first and second shell, where the second shell is slidably connected to the first shell, allowing the camera to be hidden when not in use and exposed when needed, maintaining a high screen-to-body ratio by not occupying display screen space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the camera is integrated into the display panel area, then the camera function is provided, but the screen-to-body ratio is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera functionVSAvoiddisplaying area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera module is designed to be movable relative to the display panel through a sliding mechanism. The camera can be dynamically positioned to protrude from the rear housing when needed for photography, and retract into the rear housing when not in use, allowing the display area to maintain its full size while the camera function remains accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the camera in the planar display area (2D constraint), the solution moves the camera to the depth dimension (Z-axis) by making it protrude from the rear housing. This dimensional transition allows the camera to occupy space outside the display panel area, preserving the screen-to-body ratio while providing camera functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the camera protrudes from the rear housing, then the camera function is enabled, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera functionVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera module is designed to be movable relative to the display panel through a sliding mechanism. The camera can be dynamically positioned to protrude from the rear housing when needed for photography, and retract into the rear housing when not in use, allowing the display area to maintain its full size while the camera function remains accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the second shell is slidably connected to the first shell, then the camera can be exposed or hidden, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera exposure controlVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rear housing is segmented into two separate shells: a first shell that houses the display panel and a second shell that contains the camera module. These two shells are connected through a sliding mechanism, allowing independent movement of the camera-containing shell relative to the display-containing shell, thereby enabling camera exposure control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3525437B1Mobile phone with camera
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3525437B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3525437B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3525437B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described is a mobile phone, which includes a rear housing, a display screen and a camera. The rear housing includes a first shell and a second shell. The first shell includes a primary backboard and side perimeter edges. The second shell includes a secondary backboard and outer perimeter edges. The secondary backboard is slidably connected with the primary backboard, and the secondary backboard is provided with a first position and a second position. At the first and second positions, the side perimeter edges are connected with and separated from the outer perimeter edges, respectively. The display screen is located at one side of the primary backboard. The camera is arranged on the secondary backboard. At the first position, the camera is blocked. At the second position, the camera is exposed and an orientation of a light incident surface of the camera is identical to that of the display screen.