System and method for coordinating image capture in a camera hidden behind a display device

• US 9,842,549 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Christopher K
• Application Number:
  US15/397,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20170116932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• 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 and method for 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 determining anticipated camera usage of a software application operating on the information handling system and detecting a nearest backlight to a camera zone and coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device display refresh rate and nearest backlight dimming 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 detecting a software application operating on the information handling system wherein the software application has an anticipated utilization of the camera to capture images;

the processor prompting a user to touch the camera zone on the thin panel display and identifying a nearest backlight to the camera zone; and

the processor executing code coordinating camera operation with a contextual refresh rate control at the camera zone and dimming the nearest back light to the camera zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera the anticipated utilization of the camera to capture images 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 dimming the nearest back light to the camera zone 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 prompting the user to touch the camera zone.

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:

detecting, via a processor executing instructions, a software application operating on the information handling system wherein the software application has an anticipated utilization of the camera to capture images;

detecting, via the processor, a nearest backlight to a camera zone of the thin panel display, wherein the aperture of the camera receives light passing through the outer display field layer camera zone;

coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through an outer display field layer in accordance with a contextual refresh rate control at the camera zone and dimming the nearest back light to the camera zone.

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:

prompting a user to touch the camera zone on the thin panel display.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a camera zone indicator image on the thin panel display device at the camera zone in prompting the user to touch the camera zone.

13. The method of claim 12, 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.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the outer display field layer of the thin panel display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, further comprising:

coordinating camera operation and thin panel display device operation through the outer display field layer in at the camera zone includes controlling a light angle through the outer display field layer such that it is approximately aligned with the angle of an aperture for the camera.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the contextual refresh rate control at the camera zone is based on the anticipated utilization of the camera to capture images.

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 detecting a software application operating on the information handling system wherein the software application has an anticipated utilization of the camera to capture images;

the processor identifying a nearest backlight to the camera zone;

the processor executing code coordinating camera operation with a contextual refresh rate control at the camera zone and dimming the nearest back light to the camera zone; and

the processor enabling a backlight flash mode to activate if the image subject is determined to below a light threshold level.

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 processor enabling the backlight flash mode to activate in accordance with image taking via the camera.