Under-Display Camera Lens Patterns for Image Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Under display cameras in electronic devices experience image quality degradation due to light diffraction or scattering caused by the pattern in the display panel, leading to reduced resolution and potential loss of frequency components, which cannot be completely compensated for by software processing.

Innovation Solution

The use of multiple camera modules with differently patterned lenses positioned under the display panel, where the display panel includes an emissive layer and a patterned layer between the emissive layer and the camera modules, allows for the combination of image data from each camera module to compensate for image quality degradation by reflecting the unique characteristics of each lens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single camera module is disposed under the display panel, then the device structure is simple, but image quality degradation occurs due to light diffraction and scattering from the display panel pattern

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera module structureVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single camera module into multiple camera modules (first camera module and second camera module), each with different patterned portions on their lenses. This segmentation allows each camera to capture images with different diffraction characteristics, which are then combined to compensate for image quality degradation caused by the display panel pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different patterned portions to different camera modules, where each patterned portion has specific characteristics tailored to its corresponding camera. This local quality approach ensures that each camera module has optimized diffraction characteristics for its specific position and function, improving overall image quality when images are combined.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If software processing is used to compensate for image quality degradation, then hardware structure remains simple, but lost frequency components cannot be fully recovered when signal attenuation is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware structureVSAvoidimage quality compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces patterned portions on the lenses as an intermediary element that modifies light diffraction characteristics before images are captured. These patterned portions act as optical mediators that pre-compensate for the display panel pattern effects, enabling better image quality recovery when images from multiple cameras are combined through software processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If multiple camera modules with different patterns are used, then image quality compensation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcamera module structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines images from multiple camera modules with different patterned portions to achieve image quality compensation. By merging the captured images and applying appropriate processing, the system recovers frequency components that were attenuated in individual images, ultimately improving overall image quality while managing the complexity of having multiple cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 compensates for image quality degradation by combining image data from multiple camera modules with different patterns, improving resolution and reducing light flare effects, thereby enhancing the overall image quality captured by under display cameras.

Implementation Method 1

diffraction or scattering of light due to the pattern in the display panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

diffraction or scattering of light due to the pattern in the display panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 3

light passing through the display panel and a lens of the camera module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS11812123B2Electronic device including plurality of cameras disposed under display panel and having different patterns disposed on lenses of plurality of cameras

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display panel and a first camera and a second camera disposed under the display panel. The display panel includes an emissive layer including a plurality of pixels and a patterned layer disposed between the emissive layer and the first camera or the second camera. The patterned layer includes a first patterned portion disposed on a front surface of a first lens of the first camera and a second patterned portion that is disposed on a front surface of a second lens of the second camera and that has a different shape from the first patterned portion. Besides, it may be permissible to prepare various other embodiments speculated through the specification.