Patent Application
20080080850
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled” as used herein, are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “processor” can include any component or group of components, including any relevant hardware and/or software, that can carry out the functions described in relation to the inventive arrangements herein. “Portion” can be defined as a part of something or even the entire thing.
The term “flash” can be defined as one or more illumination sources that provide light for the operation of a device that captures images. A “lens” can be defined as any structure that selectively permits the transfer of light through that structure. The term “cover” or “covers” can be defined as to be placed entirely or partially over something. Further, the term “substantially transparent” can mean permitting the passage of light, at least to a level to where the light can enhance current lighting conditions for a subject to be photographed. Conversely, the term “substantially opaque” can mean substantially blocking the passage of light, at least to a level to where a particular component is hidden from view.
Also, the term “activate,” “activating,” “activated” or “activation” can be defined as to initiate or to start, while the term “deactivate,” “deactivating,” “deactivated” or “deactivation” can mean to disable, shut off or suspend. The word “permanently” can mean the property of being fixed, such as an object that is not designed to be moved, opened or removed. A “camera mode” can be defined as a state of operation in which an image capture device is activated to be able to capture images or when a flash enters a pre-illumination stage or when the flash is activated without the image capture device being activated. A “camera phone” can be defined as a mobile communications unit that has the ability to capture images.
The invention concerns a flash shutter mechanism and a method for operating same. The flash shutter mechanism can include a flash that illuminates when an image is captured and a lens that can cover the flash, including when the flash is illuminated. The lens may also cover an image capture device, including when the device captures an image. In one arrangement, the lens can have a substantially transparent state and a substantially opaque state. As an example, the lens can be in the substantially transparent state when a camera mode is activated and can be in the substantially opaque state when the camera mode is deactivated.
In another arrangement, the shutter mechanism can be positioned in a camera phone. When the lens is in the substantially opaque state, the lens can have a color that can substantially match a portion of a housing of the camera phone. This way, the lens does not interfere with the operation of the flash when pictures are taken, yet the flash (and/or an image capture device) is covered when the camera is not in use to prevent the flash from spoiling the appearance of the phone in which it is implemented.
Referring to
In one arrangement, the lens 116 can cover the flash 114, including when the flash 114 is illuminated. In other words, the lens 116 can permanently cover the flash 114. As an example, the lens 116 can be a cholesteric lens or a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) lens. As another example, the lens 116 can be a portion of a liquid crystal display module. As is known in the art, a cholesteric lens and a PDLC lens can move between substantially transparent and opaque states. Moreover, it is known in the art that an LCD can move between states that permit light to pass through the display or that block light from emitting from the display. As will be explained below, to cause the lens 116 to move between transparent and opaque states, the processor 110 can apply a predetermined voltage level to the lens 116.
In another arrangement, the lens 116 may also cover a portion of the image capture device 112. For example, the lens 116 may cover that portion of the image capture device 112 that is exposed through or outside the housing 118, such as an opening for the device 112. Similar to the description above, the lens 116 may cover the device 112 when the device 112 is or is not in the process of capturing images. If so desired, the lens 116 can be comprised of two separate portions in which the transparency of the two portions are independent of one another. For example, the use of the flash 114 may not be necessary, and it can remain hidden from view by the lens 116 being in an opaque state. Conversely, the portion of the lens 116 covering the image capture device 112 can be made transparent to permit the operation of the device 112 without the flash 114.
Referring to
At step 210, a camera activation mode can be entered, and at step 212, a voltage can be applied to a lens. The lens can then be moved to a substantially transparent state, as shown at step 214. For example, referring to
As an example, if the lens 116 is a cholesteric lens or a PDLC lens, the lens 116 can transition to a state in which the lens 116 can allow light to pass through it. As another example, the lens 116 may be a portion of an LCD module, which is separate from the main display portion of the LCD module. In this example, the portion of the LCD module covering the flash 114 and/or the image capture device 112 can have two states. One state can be LCD essentially preventing light from passing through the LCD, while the other can be the LCD allowing light to pass through. In this case, the uniformity of the light from the flash 114 is not significant, and as such, a diffusion panel may not be required for the portion of the LCD module covering the flash 114. In either arrangement, because the lens 116 is in a substantially transparent state, light from the flash 114 can easily pass through the lens 116, thereby enhancing lighting conditions when an image is captured. The substantially transparent state of the lens 116 can also allow for proper operation of the image capture device 112.
It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to these examples. Specifically, the lens 116 may be constructed of other suitable bi-stable clear-reflective materials or other suitable structure that selectively permits the transfer of light depending on whether the camera mode is activated.
Referring back to
As an example, if the lens 116 is a cholesteric lens or a PDLC lens, the lens 116 can transition from the substantially transparent state to a substantially opaque state. In the substantially opaque state, the lens 116 can prevent light from passing through the lens 116, which can hide the flash 114 and/or the image capture device 112 from view. If the lens 116 is a portion of an LCD module, the LCD covering the lens 116 can be set to a substantially opaque state. It is understood that an LCD may be controlled by selectively applying a voltage and then removing the voltage, as opposed to applying a second voltage. In other words, the LCD may not necessarily be a bi-stable display. In this case, the step of applying two voltages at different times may not be necessary in this scenario, as the first voltage may only need to be removed from the lens 116.
In one arrangement, the color of the lens 116 in the substantially opaque state can substantially match the color of a portion of the housing 118. In particular, if the lens 116 is a cholesteric lens or a PDLC lens, the liquid crystal material can be of a color that substantially matches the color of the housing 118 when the lens 116 is in the substantially opaque state (e.g., the planar state). For example, this material may have a monochromatic grey color when the lens 116 is in the substantially opaque state, although other color arrangements are possible, as appreciated by one of skill in the art. If the choices of color for the lens 116 are limited, the portion of the housing 118 surrounding the lens 116 may be geared towards matching this color, as the colors available for the housing 118 are numerous.
Alternatively, if the lens 116 is a portion of an LCD module, then the display can be set to a color that substantially matches the housing 118. Thus, when the lens 116 is in the substantially opaque state, the flash 114 and/or the image capture device 112 can be hidden from view without detracting from the overall appearance of the camera phone 100. This process of shifting between transparent and opaque states can occur repeatedly, depending on when the camera mode is activated and deactivated.
As is known in the art, the flash 114 may be manually activated by a user in certain situations. For example, if a user is going to take a picture in a dark environment, the user may cause the flash 114 to enter a pre-illumination stage to help locate in a viewfinder an object to be photographed. At this point, the flash 114 may give off only a fraction of its normal light output when a picture is taken. In accordance with the above description, the lens 116 can enter the substantially transparent state when the flash 114 is in this pre-illumination stage. While this stage may typically not be entered until after the image capture device 112 is ready to capture an image, it is important to note that the invention is not limited as such. There may be circumstances where the flash 114 is in a pre-illumination stage without the device 112 set to take a picture, such as if the user wanted to use the flash 114 to help locate a missing object in a low-light environment. Of course, in this scenario, the user may even cause the flash 114 to illuminate at the level used for picture taking to find such an object.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
