System and Method for Coordinating Image Capture in a Camera Hidden Behind a Display Device

• US 20150271392A1
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Musgrave, Kenneth C., Sultenfuss, Andrew T., Aurongzeb, Deeder M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,570,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact

Abstract

An information handling system includes a thin panel display device with a camera oriented behind an outer liquid crystal (LCD) layer of the thin panel display device. The outer LCD layer of the thin panel display device having a camera zone through which the aperture of the camera receives light and a processor or set of processors determines camera usage a software application operating on the information handling system and coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer LCD layer in accordance with the camera usage by modifying a display refresh rate at the outer LCD layer camera zone.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a thin panel display device;

a camera oriented behind an outer display field layer of the thin panel display device having a camera zone, wherein the aperture of the camera receives light passing through the outer display field layer camera zone;

a processor determining a camera usage parameter of a software application operating on the information handling system; and

the processor coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer in accordance with at least one camera usage parameter wherein the processor modifies a display refresh rate at the outer display field layer camera zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera usage parameter includes an indication of still image capture or video capture via the camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein coordinating camera operation and the thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer includes reducing the display refresh rate at the camera zone in accordance with image taking via the camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer display field layer of the thin panel display device is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer includes reducing brightness at the camera zone of the thin panel display device in accordance with image taking via the camera.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer includes displaying a camera zone indicator image on the thin panel display device at the camera zone in accordance with image taking via the camera.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the camera located at an edge of the thin panel display device having a minimum bezel; and

the camera angled such that the camera aperture is directed toward a center location in front of the thin panel display device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the outer display field layer of the thin panel display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, further comprising:

the processor controlling voltage to the camera zone of the thin panel display device such that a light angle through the liquid crystal of the outer display field layer is approximately aligned with the angle of the camera aperture.

9. A computer-implemented method of coordinating operations of a thin panel display device having a camera comprising:

determining, via a processor executing instructions, a camera usage parameter of a software application operating on an information handling system;

controlling, via the processor, light passing through an outer display field layer of the thin panel display device to the camera oriented behind the outer display field layer;

coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer in accordance with at least one camera usage parameter wherein the processor modifies a display refresh rate at the outer display field layer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer includes reducing the display refresh rate of the thin panel display device in accordance with image taking via the camera.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

modifies the display refresh rate at a camera zone of the outer display field layer in accordance with image taking via the camera.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reducing the display refresh rate at the camera zone of the outer display field layer to zero and maintaining transparency of the camera zone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the outer display field layer of the thin panel display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, further comprising:

controlling light passing through an outer display field layer of the thin panel display device at the camera zone such that a light angle through the outer display field layer is approximately aligned with the angle of an aperture for the camera.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer includes displaying a camera zone indicator image on the thin panel display device at the camera zone in accordance with image taking via the camera.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying a camera zone indicator image on the thin panel display device at the camera zone in accordance with image taking via the camera includes a drop-down menu providing access to camera setting adjustments responsive to input at the camera zone indicator image.

16. An information handling system comprising:

a thin panel display device;

a camera oriented behind an outer display field layer of the thin panel display device having a camera zone, wherein the aperture of the camera receives light passing through the outer display field layer camera zone;

a processor determining a camera usage parameter of a software application operating on the information handling system; and

the processor coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer in accordance with at least one camera usage parameter wherein the processor asynchronously reduces the display refresh rate at the camera zone in accordance with image taking via the camera at the camera zone.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the outer display field layer is a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, further comprising:

the processor reducing display backlighting at the camera zone of the thin panel display device in accordance with image taking via the camera.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

the thin film display device displaying a camera zone indicator image on the thin panel display device at the camera zone in accordance with image taking via the camera.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the outer display field layer of the camera zone further comprises a thinner semi-transparent zone along an outer edge of the thin film display device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

the camera angled such that the camera aperture is directed toward a center location in front of the thin panel display device.